F-18 jet crashes in San Diego neighborhood

A firefighter walks past homes engulfed in flames in the University City neighborhood after a military jet crashed into homes in San Diego, California December 8, 2008. The F/A-18D jet crashed into the California neighborhood near San Diego on Monday after the pilot ejected, killing two people on the ground and destroying two homes, officials said. REUTERS

The wreckage of an F/A-18D fighter sits in the University City neighborhood after the military jet crashed into homes in San Diego, California, December 8, 2008. The jet crashed into the California neighborhood near San Diego on Monday after the pilot ejected, killing two people on the ground and destroying two homes, officials said. REUTERS

Residents cough while fleeing with their pets from the scene of a military jet that crashed into homes in the University City neighborhood of San Diego, California December 8, 2008. REUTERS

Firefighters look near the remains of a military jet that crashed into homes in the University City neighborhood of San Diego, California December 8, 2008. REUTERS

Flames engulf a home in the University City neighborhood after a military jet crashed into homes in San Diego, California December 8, 2008. The jet crashed into the California neighborhood near San Diego on Monday after the pilot ejected, killing two people on the ground and destroying two homes, officials said. REUTERS

Military jet crash in San Diego kills 3 on ground

SAN DIEGO – A fighter jet returning to a Marine base after a training exercise crashed in flames in a San Diego neighborhood Monday, killing three people on the ground, leaving one missing and destroying two homes. The pilot of the F/A-18D Hornet jet ejected safely just before the crash around noon at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Explosions rocked a neighborhood of half-million-dollar homes, sending flames and plumes of smoke skyward.

“The house shook; the ground shook. It was like I was frozen in my place,” said Steve Krasner, who lives a few blocks from the crash. “It was bigger than any earthquake I ever felt.”

Three people were killed in a house where two children, a mother and a grandmother were believed to be at the time of the crash, but fire officials did not immediately know who died. Another person remained missing.

“We just know that four people were inside, and three of them have been accounted for,” Fire Department spokesman Maurice Luque said.

The pilot, who ended up hanging by his parachute from a tree in a canyon beneath the neighborhood, was in stable condition at a naval hospital in San Diego, said Miramar spokeswoman 1st Lt. Katheryn Putnam. The pilot was returning from training on the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the San Diego coast when the plane went down, she said… more

3 maut jet pejuang terhempas di California

09 Disember 2008 09:31AM

(Waktu kejadian 8pagi waktu Malaysia)

SAN DIEGO: Pihak berkuasa mengesahkan tiga maut manakala seorang lagi dilaporkan hilang selepas sebuah jet pejuang F/A-18D Hornet terhempas di kawasan penduduk sesak di San Diego, hari ini.

Jurucakap polis, Monica Munoz, berkata pihak berkuasa perubatan kini bergegas ke kawasan perumahan yang musnah dan menjangkakan lebih ramai mangsa ditemui akibat kejadian itu.

Jurucakap bomba, Maurice Luque pula berkata, seorang dipercayai hilang sebaik pesawat terhempas berdekatan Lapangan Terbang Merine Corp, di Miramar.

Bagaimanapun, juruterbang pesawat terselamat menggunakan kerusi anjal dan kini dirawat di hospital.

Kejadian berlaku ketika juruterbang sedang melakukan latihan di pesisir pantai Pasifik. – AP

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