US Navy F-18 jet crashes into Virginia apartment block: Reports
A US Navy F-18 jet crashed into a low-rise apartment building in Virginia on Friday triggering an inferno, US media reported, with emergency responders rushing to the scene.
The two crew members successfully ejected from the jet which crashed into a populated area in the eastern coastal tourist resort of Virginia Beach, CNN reported.
But their condition was unknown with one crew member reported to have been taken to Sentara Virginia Beach hospital, as firefighters were desperately trying to control the blaze.
"There were flames coming out of its engine at the back, which I just thought was afterburn or whatever... but the plane got lower and lower. I saw one pilot eject," witness Jon Swain told MSNBC.
"I understand there were two, but I only saw one. And then you know, probably five seconds later, I was at the building where it hit. It burst into flames," he said.
The plane smashed into a low-rise apartment block, he said.
"It hit it dead center. And yeah, it's pretty traumatic," Swain said. "There were a few people running from the building."
Emergency vehicles with sirens wailing rushed to the scene but there was no immediate word on casualties, as smoke was seen billowing from the two-story apartment block.
The Navy and the Virginia Beach police department could not be immediately contacted.
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