US warplane crashes near lake southeast of Mount Rainier, sparking wildfire
A US military aircraft has crashed near a lake southeast of Mount Rainier in Washington's Yakima County, sparking a wildfire roughly 200km southeast of the state capital, Seattle.
According to the Naches Fire Department, the military aircraft crashed near Rimrock Lake on Saturday afternoon.
Officials with the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, reported that an F/A-18 Hornet warplane experienced a "nonfatal mishap" around 12 p.m. while training near Rimrock Lake. The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation, military officials said.
The pilot safely ejected from the craft before it crashed, according to first responders, and is being treated for minor injuries at a nearby medical facility, but the crash sparked a wildfire in the area.
"A couple of jets had already buzzed over the lake. We heard another one coming, but it made popping sounds. We thought it was just air noises from the jet. When we walked down to the lakefront, we could see the smoke," said Tina Liniger, who was watching the planes train lakeside when the crash occurred.
Marissa Fernandez was also watching the planes fly around with her family when she saw a jet start smoking mid-air.
"All of a sudden the jet started smoking, went down and hit the trees! We did see the pilot eject and were hoping he landed safely," she said.
The blaze, called the Pine Tree Fire, is two acres as of 9:00 p.m., per the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). There is no estimate on containment yet. It is burning just off of Forest Road 1241.
Naches Fire Department officials said the fire is currently being suppressed by helicopters and at least one engine from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest crew.
For safety, the road system off of FR 1200 on the south side of the lake is closed, fire officials said.
According to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, military agencies have been notified of the incident and "they will be sending their people and resources."
Law enforcement will share more information when available, officers said.
Is Iran Navy 'lying at the bottom of sea’? Debunking Trump administration's most repeated lie
The strategic arsenal US lost in war against Iran – and why replenishment will take years
One year after 12-day war: Iran rises as regional superpower while US Empire slips into oblivion
US use of AI in Iran school massacre did not breach Anthropic’s ‘red lines’: CEO
VIDEO | Massive rallies in Pakistan honor Islamic Revolution's late Leader Ayatollah Khamenei
VIDEO | Security challenges test Pakistan’s regional ambitions
VIDEO | Iraqis commemorate 12th anniversary of Al-Jihad Al-Kifa’i fatwa against Daesh
VIDEO | Prominent Palestinian doctor Abu Safiya appeared at Israeli supreme court by video link
VIDEO | Gaza’s market paradox: High inflation, cash scarcity force 1.5 million into a coupon economy
US warplane crashes southeast of Mount Rainier, sparking wildfire
Hezbollah fighters successfully ambush Israeli forces in southern Lebanon
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
