Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet Crashes Near Mount Rainier, Sparks Wildfire
On June 15, 2026, a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed near Rimrock Lake, southeast of Mount Rainier in Washington state, during routine training. The pilot ejected safely with minor injuries. The crash sparked a wildfire, prompting helicopter response from the Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service, and evacuation of campers. The Marine Corps is investigating the cause. This incident follows a 55% rise in military aviation mishaps and a fatal EA-18G Growler crash in the same region in October 2025.
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F/A-18 Hornet crashes in Washington state, triggering wildfire; pilot ejects safely
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, on June 15, 2026, during a routine training exercise. The pilot ejected safely and was treated for minor injuries. Shortly after the crash, a wildfire broke out in the Rimrock Lake area, prompting evacuation of campers and a response from the Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service using a helicopter. The Marine Corps has launched an investigation into the cause of the mishap but did not confirm whether the crash caused the fire. The article also notes a recent 55% increase in U.S. military aviation mishap rates per 100,000 flight hours in fiscal year 2024, and recalls a 2024 Navy EA-18G Growler crash in the same state that killed two pilots.
Military TimesF/A-18 Hornet crashes in Washington state, triggering wildfire
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, on June 15, 2026, during a routine training exercise. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Shortly after the crash, a wildfire broke out in the area near Rimrock Lake, prompting evacuation of campers and a response from the Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service using a helicopter. The Marine Corps has launched an investigation into the cause of the mishap but has not confirmed whether the crash caused the fire. The incident follows a reported 55% increase in significant military aviation accidents per 100,000 flight hours in fiscal 2024, and echoes a 2024 Navy EA-18G Growler crash in the same state that killed two pilots.
Military TimesF/A-18 Hornet crashes in Washington state, triggering wildfire
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed on June 15, 2026, approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, during a routine training exercise. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The crash, which occurred near Rimrock Lake in Yakima County, was followed by a wildfire that required intervention from the Naches Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service. Campers in the area were evacuated as a precaution. The Marine Corps confirmed the jet was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and stated the cause of the mishap is under investigation. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing would not confirm whether the crash caused the fire. The incident comes amid a reported 55% increase in significant military aviation accidents per 100,000 flight hours in fiscal 2024, and follows a fatal EA-18G Growler crash in Washington state in October 2025.
Marine Corps TimesF/A-18 Hornet crashes in Washington state, triggering wildfire
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed on June 15, 2026, approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, during a routine training exercise. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The crash, which occurred near Rimrock Lake in Yakima County, was followed by a wildfire that prompted the evacuation of campers in the area. The Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service deployed a helicopter to fight the flames. The Marine Corps has launched an investigation into the cause of the mishap, and has not confirmed whether the crash caused the fire. The incident comes amid a reported 55% increase in significant U.S. military aviation accidents per 100,000 flight hours in fiscal 2024.
Navy TimesF/A-18 Hornet Crashes in Washington State, Wildfire Subsequently Reported
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed on June 15, 2026, approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, during a routine training exercise. The pilot safely ejected and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The jet was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Shortly after the crash, a wildfire broke out in the area near Rimrock Lake, prompting evacuations of campers and intervention by the Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service using a helicopter. The Marine Corps has not confirmed whether the crash caused the fire, and an investigation into the mishap is underway. The article also notes a 55% increase in significant military aviation accidents per 100,000 flight hours in fiscal 2024 compared to the previous four years, and references a fatal EA-18G Growler crash in Washington state in October 2024.
Marine Corps TimesF/A-18 Hornet Crashes in Washington State, Wildfire Subsequently Reported
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed on June 15, 2026, approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, during a routine training exercise. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Shortly after the crash, a wildfire broke out in the area, prompting the Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service to deploy a helicopter to subdue the flames. Local law enforcement evacuated campers near Rimrock Lake. The Marine Corps confirmed the aircraft was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and stated the cause of the mishap is under investigation. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing would not confirm whether the crash caused the fire. The article also notes a 55% increase in significant military aviation accidents per 100,000 flight hours in fiscal 2024, and references a previous fatal EA-18G Growler crash in Washington state in October 2024.
Navy TimesF/A-18 Hornet Crashes in Washington State, Wildfire Subsequently Reported
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, on June 15, 2026, during a routine training exercise. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Shortly after the crash, a wildfire broke out in the area near Rimrock Lake, prompting the Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service to deploy a helicopter to subdue the flames. Local law enforcement evacuated campers as a precaution. The Marine Corps has launched an investigation into the cause of the mishap but has not confirmed whether the crash directly caused the fire. The incident follows a reported 55% increase in significant U.S. military aviation accidents per 100,000 flight hours in fiscal 2024, and comes less than a year after two Navy pilots died in an EA-18G Growler crash east of Mount Rainier in October 2025.
Navy TimesF/A-18 Hornet crashes in Washington state, triggering wildfire
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed in a mountainous area 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, on June 15, 2026, during a routine training exercise. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Shortly after the crash, a wildfire broke out in the area, prompting the Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service to deploy a helicopter to fight the flames. Local law enforcement evacuated campers as a precaution. The Marine Corps confirmed the aircraft was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and stated the cause of the mishap is under investigation. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing would not confirm whether the crash caused the fire. The article also notes a broader context of increased U.S. military aviation mishaps, citing a 55% rise in significant accident rates per 100,000 flight hours in fiscal 2024, and references a previous fatal EA-18G Growler crash in Washington state in October 2025.
Military TimesF/A-18 Hornet crashes in Washington state; wildfire reported after pilot ejects
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed on Saturday approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, during a routine training exercise. The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, ejected safely and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The Yakima County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a military plane crashing into a mountain near Rimrock Lake around 12:15 p.m. Shortly after the crash, a wildfire broke out in the area, prompting the Naches Fire Department, with support from the U.S. Forest Service, to deploy a helicopter to combat the flames. Local law enforcement evacuated campers as a precaution. The Marine Corps has launched an investigation into the cause of the mishap, but has not confirmed whether the crash sparked the wildfire. This incident comes amid a reported 55% spike in significant U.S. military aviation accidents in fiscal 2024, according to Pentagon data released in November 2025.
Marine Corps TimesMarine Corps F/A-18 Hornet Crashes Near Mount Rainier, Sparks Wildfire
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state on Saturday afternoon, sparking a wildfire that required multiple helicopters to suppress. The aircraft, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was conducting routine training when it experienced a non-fatal mishap. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by the local sheriff's department before being taken to a hospital. The crash occurred near Rimrock Lake, southeast of Mount Rainier, prompting the evacuation of campers from the area. The Naches Fire Department responded with helicopters and fire engines, advising the public to avoid the area. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The incident follows a similar crash in October 2024, when a Navy EA-18G Growler crashed near the same area during a routine training mission, killing both crew members.
Task & PurposeMarine Corps F/A-18 Hornet Crashes Near Mount Rainier, Sparks Wildfire
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state on Saturday afternoon, sparking a wildfire that required multiple helicopters to suppress. The aircraft, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, experienced a non-fatal mishap during routine training. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by the local sheriff's department, then transported to a hospital. The crash occurred near Rimrock Lake, southeast of Mount Rainier, prompting evacuation of campers from the area. The Naches Fire Department responded with helicopters and fire engines, advising the area be avoided. The cause of the crash is under investigation. This incident follows a 2024 crash of a Navy EA-18G Growler in the same region that killed both crew members.
Task & PurposeMarine Corps F/A-18 Hornet Crashes Near Mount Rainier, Sparks Wildfire
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state on Saturday afternoon, sparking a wildfire that required multiple helicopters to suppress. The aircraft, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was conducting routine training when it experienced a non-fatal mishap. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by the local sheriff's department before being taken to a hospital. The crash occurred near Rimrock Lake, southeast of Mount Rainier, prompting the evacuation of campers from the area. The Naches Fire Department responded with helicopters and fire engines, advising the public to avoid the area. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The incident follows a similar crash in October 2024, when a Navy EA-18G Growler crashed near the same area during a routine training mission, killing both crew members.
Task & Purpose