1 Killed, 1 Hurt in Crash of Marine Jet Fighter
A two-seat fighter jet from South Carolina crashed during a landing Sunday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, killing one Marine and injuring another, a spokeswoman said.
It was the third fatal training accident in California in 12 days.
The crash occurred just after 2 p.m. at the combat center’s airfield, said Capt. Teresa Ovalle. The pilot and weapons systems officer ejected from the F/A-18D Hornet, which was based at the Marine Corps Air Station at Beaufort, S.C. The pilot, whose name was withheld pending notification of family, was treated at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital and released.
Capt. James B. Blackmon Jr., 32, died of a heart attack at 5:50 p.m. at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, after suffering head and internal injuries in the crash, said Stephanie Stratton, an administrative nursing supervisor.
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