Marine F/A-18 pilot walks toward rescuers after ejecting near Mount Rainier

Published Aug 18, 08:27 PM UTC

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.