An apartment complex in Virginia Beach was engulfed in flame and smoke after a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet jet crashed shortly after noon, The Virginian-Pilot reports. The two pilots on board safely ejected from the plane after it began malfunctioning following takeoff, the Navy said.
The jet is used by VFA-106, a student training squadron at the Navy’s base in Virginia Beach. The plane crashed into the Mayfair Apartments, a five-building complex near Interstate 264, which has also been shut down in both directions. Emergency crews are searching for casualties on the ground, the Pilot reports.
The above photo was snapped by a Twitter user who happened to be near the crash site.
UPDATE, 1:25 p.m.: Gov. Bob McDonnell has released the following statement:
We are taking all possible steps at the state level to provide immediate resources and assistance to those impacted by the crash of an F-18 fighter jet in Virginia Beach. In the past half hour I have spoken to Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms several times and informed him that all Commonwealth resources are available to him as the community responds to this breaking situation. We are monitoring events carefully as they unfold and State Police resources are now on the scene. Our fervent prayer is that no one was injured or killed in this accident.
UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.: Local media in the Hampton Roads area report that five people on the ground suffered non-life-threatening injuries when the jet slammed into the apartment complex. The two pilots who ejected from the plane also suffered minor injuries, Virginia Beach Fire Battalion Chief Tim Riley tells WAVY-TV.
Meanwhile, as the clean-up of the crash site begins, residents of the apartment complex struck by the jet are being cautioned not to touch any part of the destroyed plane. Not only is it unsafe, it’s also a federal offense to touch military aircraft. All five buildings at the Mayfair Apartments complex were impacted by the crash. Rescue crews have searched two of the buildings so far and have not found any fatalities.
The Weather Channel has put together a great Storify on the crash.
