F-18 fighter jet crashes into residential area in San Diego

[southerngale]

It looks like one house and a few cars are on fire. The pilot is reported to have ejected before the crash and to be stuck in a tree at this time. I pray that nobody was home. Hopefully, no injuries or deaths.

[HURAKAN]

http://www.kpbs.org/news/local;id=13402

"There are no immediate reports of injuries."

[southerngale]

The pilot has been safely recovered.

[JonathanBelles]

oh wow! Hope everyone is ok!

[HURAKAN]

Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... gD94UP3Q00

[cycloneye]

Very sad news to report as there were 2 people killed on the ground.

By ELLIOT SPAGAT Associated Press Writer
SAN DIEGO December 8, 2008 (AP) The Associated Press

Pilot ejects before fighter jet crashes into a residential area.A military fighter jet preparing to land at a Marine base crashed in a densely populated San Diego neighborhood Monday, killing two people on the ground and destroying two houses, officials said.

The pilot of the F/A-18D Hornet jet ejected safely, according to a statement from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

Mayor Jerry Sanders said two people on the ground were killed. Fire officials said the deaths were at a home where two children, a mother and a grandmother were believed to be inside. Officials did not immediately know who died.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6418962

[Stephanie]

What a sad story!

[cycloneye]

Oh my,now 3 is the number of people that were killed in the house.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28115760/

[HURAKAN]

Very sad to hear that three people died. Sometimes when your destine is to die in a plane crash, the plane comes to you, and not the other way around.

[somethingfunny]

I'm sure the pilot who ejected but couldn't manage to steer out of that densely populated area feels horrible right now.

The cause of the crash, I'd presume will be under investigation and then classified.

[bvigal]

Yes, very sad all around. Sad for the man who lost his wife, both children, mother-in-law, and home and possessions in one swift stroke. And also sad for the young pilot, who now must live each day of his life with this horror.

Steve Diamond, a retired naval aviator from Tierrasanta, found the pilot in a tree behind a house just east of University City High School. He helped the man, whom he described as a lieutenant in his 20s, down from the tree.

Diamond said the pilot told him that after he lost power in the first engine, a decision was made to get the jet to Miramar on the remaining engine.

“He was making motions with his hand, like he was trying to throttle up, and he said there was no power,” said Matthew Gorsuch, a former helicopter door gunner in the Navy who lives near the crash site. “He said he was trying to find a clearing, but he ran out of time.”

Through it all, Gorsuch said, the pilot had just one concern. “The only thing he cared about was where his plane had landed. That was the only thing he asked about. That was all he had on his mind.”

from http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081209-9999-7n9jetdown.html#

[ohiostorm]

I guess a second child is missing.

[Stephanie]

Yes, very sad all around. Sad for the man who lost his wife, both children, mother-in-law, and home and possessions in one swift stroke. And also sad for the young pilot, who now must live each day of his life with this horror.

Steve Diamond, a retired naval aviator from Tierrasanta, found the pilot in a tree behind a house just east of University City High School. He helped the man, whom he described as a lieutenant in his 20s, down from the tree.

Diamond said the pilot told him that after he lost power in the first engine, a decision was made to get the jet to Miramar on the remaining engine.

“He was making motions with his hand, like he was trying to throttle up, and he said there was no power,” said Matthew Gorsuch, a former helicopter door gunner in the Navy who lives near the crash site. “He said he was trying to find a clearing, but he ran out of time.”

Through it all, Gorsuch said, the pilot had just one concern. “The only thing he cared about was where his plane had landed. That was the only thing he asked about. That was all he had on his mind.”

from http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081209-9999-7n9jetdown.html#