A US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet crashed in a residential area of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Friday afternoon. Both pilots were reported to have ejected.
A rescue effort was launched in an apartment complex hit by the plane. About an hour after the crash, one person on the ground was reported injured, and one of the ejected pilots was taken to a hospital.
Smoke from the crash was seen rising beside an apartment building. Wreckage of the jet was photographed between two homes.
The plane belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron 106 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, a few miles from the crash site.
Witness Bucky Snow told WAVY news that he saw sparks flickering out of the low flying plane before it went down.
Crash site was directly in-line with possible takeoff path from Naval Air Station Oceana.
Update 2:00 PM: The US Navy has confirmed that the plane crashed just after takeoff.
Update 3:57 PM: Virginia Beach fire officials have released some new numbers during a press briefing. Five buildings have suffered damage, and three of those are too unstable to search. Seven people reported injured. Three of those refused treatment. Four others were transported to hospitals, including the two pilots of the jet. No fatalities have been reported, but that could change once the remaining buildings are searched.
Developing…
