US Marine pilot dies as F-18 crashes in UK
A U.S. Marine pilot died and his F-18 crashed Wednesday near a United Kingdom air force base, according to U.S. and British authorities.
The combat jet crashed around 5:30 a.m. local time near Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.
Cambridgeshire Police said the Hornet had taken off from the air base.
{mosads} “We can confirm one fatality and believe there was just one person on board the aircraft,” the Cambridgeshire police said in a statement.
British authorities confirmed the death of the pilot but did not yet know if the flyer had ejected from the fighter before it crashed.
The aircraft, belonging to a squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, was returning to the U.S. from Bahrain.
Five other F-18s were diverted to another military airfield in Scotland, according to U.S. officials.
The United Kingdom Coast Guard is at the crash site in England and is investigating, U.S. officials said. The cause of the crash is unknown.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the pilot,” the U.S. Marines said in a statement.
— This report was updated at 11:56 a.m.
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