A Marine Corps pilot was able to eject safely from his AV-8B Harrier just before it crashed during a training exercise about 15 miles northwest of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma this afternoon. The incident happened at about 3:30 p.m.
The aircraft landed in an unpopulated area near Felicity, California. It is a total loss, officials said. It was unknown yet whether or not the jet fighter was carrying live ammunition during the mission to the Chocolate Mountain Range.
The harrier is assigned to Marine Attack Training Squadron 203, which is stationed at MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina. The squadron is in the Yuma area to conduct aerial combat training operations.
According to Capt. Staci Reidinger, director of public affairs for MCAS Yuma, the pilot was able to eject safely, and upon landing used his cell phone to contact the base for help. Following his phone call, a Search and Rescue helicopter and crew stationed at MCAS Yuma was dispatched to the area of the crash to transport the pilot.
A crash response team has been ordered to the site to secure the area, begin an investigation into the matter, and to initiate clean-up procedures.
“The command here is working diligently,” Reidinger said. “The most important thing the command wanted to make sure was the safety of the pilot and to secure the area of the crash to ensure there was no danger to people in the surrounding area.”
The cause of the incident is under investigation. No other information was available.
Source: http://www.yumasun.com
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