Marine Pilot Survives F/A-18 Hornet Crash in Washington State
On June 13, 2026, a U.S. Marine Corps pilot ejected from an F/A-18 Hornet during a routine training exercise near Rimrock Lake, Washington. The aircraft crashed into a mountainside, sparking a wildfire. Bodycam footage from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office shows the pilot walking away with minor facial lacerations, telling responders he was “very lucky to be alive.” The pilot, reportedly a Marine major, was hospitalized. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, amid a series of recent U.S. military aviation mishaps.
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Body Cam Footage Shows Marine Pilot After F/A-18 Crash Near Mount Rainier
The Yakima County Sheriff's Office released body camera footage showing the moment first responders found a Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot after his jet crashed near Mount Rainier, Washington on June 13. The pilot, a Marine major, had ejected shortly before impact and was seen walking toward responders with blood on his face, holding a phone and calling 911. He told responders he was 'a little frazzled' and described the flight as 'low-level training' over Rimrock Lake. The jet, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, spiraled and exploded on impact. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. The Marine Corps declined to comment beyond its initial statement, citing an ongoing investigation. The crash is one of several recent U.S. military aviation mishaps, including an F-35B crash in Southern California and a B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base.
Body Cam Footage Shows Marine Pilot After F/A-18 Crash Near Mount Rainier
The Yakima County Sheriff's Office released body camera footage showing the moment first responders found a Marine Corps pilot after his F/A-18 Hornet crashed near Mount Rainier, Washington, on June 13. The pilot, identified by CBS News as a Marine major, ejected shortly before impact and walked toward responders with blood on his face, holding a phone and calling 911. He told them he was 'a little frazzled' and described the flight as 'low-level training' over Rimrock Lake before the jet veered toward the ground and exploded. Bystander footage captured the crash. The pilot was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The Marine Corps declined to confirm his identity, citing an ongoing investigation. The incident is one of several recent U.S. military aviation mishaps.
Body Cam Footage Shows Marine Pilot After F/A-18 Crash Near Mount Rainier
Body camera footage released by the Yakima County Sheriff's Office shows the moment first responders found a Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot after his jet crashed near Mount Rainier, Washington on June 13. The pilot, identified by CBS News as Maj. Jackson Simon, was seen walking toward responders with blood on his face, holding a phone and calling 911. He had ejected shortly before the aircraft spiraled into the ground and exploded. The pilot told responders he was 'a little frazzled' and described the incident as a routine training flight involving low-level circles over Rimrock Lake. He sustained only minor injuries, primarily cuts on his face. The Marine Corps has not confirmed the pilot's identity and cited an ongoing investigation. The crash is one of several recent U.S. military aviation mishaps, including an F-35B crash in California and a B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base.
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Bodycam Footage Shows Marine Pilot Walking Away from F/A-18 Hornet Crash in Washington
Newly released bodycam footage from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office shows a U.S. Marine Corps pilot walking away from the crash of his F/A-18 Hornet in Washington state on June 13, 2026. The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, ejected safely after an aviation mishap during a routine training exercise near Rimrock Lake. The aircraft crashed into a mountainside, sparking a wildfire. The pilot emerged from a wooded area with a bloody face and minor lacerations, telling an officer he was 'very, very lucky to be alive.' The officer helped retrieve the pilot's gear, including a helmet with the motto 'COME TO FIGHT COME TO WIN.' The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Bodycam Footage Shows Marine Pilot Walking Away from Crashed F/A-18 Hornet
Newly released bodycam footage from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office shows a bloodied U.S. Marine Corps pilot after he safely ejected from an F/A-18 Hornet during a routine training exercise on June 13, 2026, near Rimrock Lake in Washington state. The aircraft crashed into a mountainside, sparking a wildfire. The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, emerged from a wooded area with minor lacerations to his face and hands. He told an officer he was 'very, very lucky to be alive' and that he hit trees before ejecting. The officer helped retrieve the pilot's gear, including a helmet with the motto 'COME TO FIGHT COME TO WIN.' Paramedics treated the pilot on scene before he was taken to a hospital. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Bodycam Footage Shows Marine Pilot Walking Away from Crashed F/A-18 Hornet
Newly released bodycam footage from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office shows a bloodied U.S. Marine Corps pilot walking away after ejecting from an F/A-18 Hornet during a routine training exercise on June 13, 2026, near Rimrock Lake in Washington state. The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, emerged from a wooded area with facial lacerations and told an officer he was 'very, very lucky to be alive.' The aircraft crashed into a mountainside, sparking a wildfire. The pilot's gear, including a helmet with the words 'COME TO FIGHT COME TO WIN,' was recovered from the woods. Paramedics treated the pilot for minor injuries before he was taken to a hospital. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Bodycam Footage Shows Marine Pilot Walking Away from Crashed F/A-18 Hornet
Newly released bodycam footage from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office shows a bloodied U.S. Marine Corps pilot who safely ejected from an F/A-18 Hornet during a routine training exercise on June 13, 2026, in Washington state. The aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Rimrock Lake, sparking a wildfire. The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, emerged from woods with facial lacerations and told an officer he was 'very, very lucky to be alive.' The officer retrieved the pilot's gear, including a helmet inscribed 'COME TO FIGHT COME TO WIN,' and the pilot's bloody oxygen mask and parachute. Paramedics treated minor injuries before transporting him to a hospital. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Bodycam Footage Shows Marine Pilot Walking Away from Crashed F/A-18 Hornet
Newly released bodycam footage from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office shows a bloodied U.S. Marine Corps pilot who safely ejected from an F/A-18 Hornet during a routine training exercise on June 13, 2026, in Washington state. The aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Rimrock Lake, sparking a wildfire. The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, emerged from the woods with minor lacerations and was taken to a hospital. The footage captures the pilot telling an officer he was 'very, very lucky to be alive' and that he hit trees after coming over a treeline. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Bodycam Footage Shows Marine Pilot Walking Away from Crashed F/A-18 Hornet
Newly released bodycam footage from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office shows a bloodied U.S. Marine Corps pilot who safely ejected from an F/A-18 Hornet during a routine training exercise on June 13, 2026, in Washington state. The aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Rimrock Lake, sparking a wildfire. The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, emerged from woods with facial lacerations and told an officer he was 'very, very lucky to be alive.' The officer helped retrieve the pilot's gear, including a helmet inscribed 'COME TO FIGHT COME TO WIN,' and his parachute tangled in trees. Paramedics treated the pilot for minor cuts before hospitalization. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.