Fighter Jet Crashes Into Ocean

A Marine Corps FA-18 fighter jet maneuvering 60 miles off the coast of Orange County crashed into the ocean near San Clemente Island on Monday, slightly injuring the pilot, who ejected to safety, military officials said.

The name of the pilot was not released pending notification of relatives, but a Marine spokesman said he was not seriously injured and was listed in stable condition at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego.

Sgt. Richard Ness, a spokesman at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, said the plane was on a routine training mission when it went down about 20 miles southeast of the island at 5:15 p.m. The pilot ejected and landed in the ocean near the point where the twin-engine, single-seat fighter crashed into the sea, Ness said. The $26-million aircraft, built by McDonnell Douglas, was a total loss.

The pilot was rescued by a Navy H-3 helicopter dispatched from the North Island Naval Air Station near San Diego. He arrived at the naval hospital about 7:15 p.m. Other helicopters were involved in the search and rescue mission, but Ness said he did not know how long the pilot was in the water before being pulled to safety.

Ness said he could not disclose whether the plane was carrying live ammunition when it went down or if it was involved in simulated combat maneuvers over San Clemente Island. The island, about 60 miles off the coast of Oceanside, is used by the Navy and Marine Corps for combat training.

The plane that went down was attached to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531 at the El Toro Air Station. The squadron is one of three FA-18 squadrons based at El Toro.

“The plane has a good safety record,” said Maj. Stan Gould of the El Toro Air Station.

The 56-foot-long FA-18 is one of the mainstays of the Marine Corps air arsenal. A lightweight fighter attack aircraft known for its agility and speed, the Hornet can carry six Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and two Sparrow air-to-air missiles. It can also be outfitted with a 20-mm rotary-barrel cannon and 17,000-pound bombs.