US Marine Corps jet crashes in Djibouti; pilot ejected and in 'stable' condition, officials say
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet, similar to those seen in the photo, crashed in the East African nation of Djibouti. (REUTERS)
A U.S. Marine Corp pilot ejected and was in "stable condition" after his AV-8B Harrier jet crashed in Djibouti on Tuesday during a training exercise, officials told Fox News.
The pilot was being treated in a U.S. military facility, officials said.
The pilot ejected during takeoff from Djibouti Ambouli International Airport just after 4 p.m. local time, a spokesman for the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NAVY F/A-18 JET CRASH OFF KEY WEST LEAVES 2 AVIATORS DEAD
“No other injuries were reported to personnel on the ground nor damage to infrastructure at the airport,” the statement said.
The jet was flying in support of a training exercise with the U.S. Central Command, officials said. It was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 and embarked aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There are roughly 4,000 U.S. troops deployed to the East African nation.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.