The pilot ejected safely and was later treated and released for minor injuries at a Fallon, Nevada hospital.
Both the pilot and the aircraft are assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
According to a Navy news release, VMFA 323 (part of Carrier Air Wing 11) is currently training at Naval Air Station Fallon.
Naval Air Forces Pacific spokesman Lt. Aaron Kakiel told the U-T San Diego:
“The job itself is of a dangerous nature, but it’s not common for an F/A-18 or military aircraft in general to crash. Luckily, it’s one of the safety precautions we have in the aircraft — when the pilot is able to recognize a situation that is unrecoverable, they are able to eject and get out safely.”According to Kakiel, the $30 million jet was completely destroyed in the crash.
Sources:
http://www.utsandiego.com
http://www.navy.mil
http://www.kpbs.org
http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com
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