A Navy F-18 champion just pass away down bolt in the middle of a Virginia Beach apartment building complex , demolishing buildings and bequeath others ablaze after multiple explosion — the super acid itself is an enormous flaming heap of jet wreckage .
WAVY - TV reports “ the Navy told WAVY.com the plane was an F18 Strike fighter squadron 106 , ” and is clearly stillablazefrom on the flat coat images . No word on whether any pilot program was injured ( or dead ) , but there are already report ofinjured pedestrians . No Word of God on what cause the woodworking plane , which costs ten of millions of dollars to go down , but it somehow managed to avoid stumble a minigolf course and piss park , though nearby residences may not have been spared . CNNrelaysone in particular awful item :
Another watcher , Zack Zapatero , said the aeroplane crashed into a building occupied by senior citizens . He take in exposure of the scene . “ There ’s these large fire balls coming up , ” Zapatero say . “ I was told there was a bunch of senior citizens that live in that edifice , which worry me a lot . “ building were originate to collapse , ” he tell of the wreckage scene .
[ WAVY - TV ]
Are you near the clang ? Have you heard from anyone nearby or take any pictures?Email me .
Update 12:56 post-mortem EDT : A local NBC affiliate enjoin both F-18 pilots have been take to the infirmary after ejecting . A nearby flat building ( ! ) is being searched for casualties .
Update 12:59 PM EDT : Local wireless post 96X has this characterization of the monolithic smoke column pour out of the shipwreck .
Update 1 post-mortem EDT : This Instagramshotclearly demonstrate buildings on firing as a upshot of the crash .
Update 1:05 PM EDT : A local news crew is live on the scene . Footage here .
Update 1:06 PM EDT : OneTwitter userhas already site the plane ’s batter exclusion seat .
Update 1:08 PM EDT : Twitterimagesare fly in show the extent of the residential fire(s ) . Eyewitnesses describe particularly “ buttery ” fume filling the strain .
Update 1:10 promethium EDT : Virginia Beach resident and eyewitness Ross Groggreports“At least 1 civilian go away picture on stretcher . ”
Update 1:14 PM EDT : Here ’s a Google Street View peep at the Mayfair Mews Apartments , which look to be devastated by the smash . Very dense — not a safe topographic point for an F-18 impingement .
Update 1:16 autopsy EDT : Facebook user Chandler Blake Ferguson relay this image of the F-18 on its way down , allegedly “ dumping fuel everywhere and swash white smoke out . ”
Update 1:18 PM EDT : It looks like we were amiss before — the carpenter’s plane did n’t crash near a school , but into ( or highly close to ) an flat building complex .
Update 1:19 PM EDT : We talk to Lieutenant Commander Mike Kafka from the US Navy :
This forenoon an F18 assign to 106 training police squad crash just
outside the US Naval Airbase Oceana . Both pilot safely eject . Lt .
Kafka enounce they ’d discover reports that the carpenter’s plane crashed into a
apartment complex , but fell short of really sustain them . He said
both military and nonmilitary responders were on the land . Could n’t
confirm reports of an casualties on the ground and said that the drive
of the crash was still unknown at the time .
The Navy told us that more information is coming .
Update 1:25 PM EDT : A VA EMS radioscannerreports the following :
fourth alarm + mass casualty in area of birdneck rd & 24th st . navy fighter jet crashed into multiple apartment buildings .
Update 1:27 PM EDT : Local author and photographer M. Scott Mahaskey islisteningto the flame department scanner : “ Apartment building “ Pretty much destroyed
Update 1:28 Prime Minister EDT : AnotherFacebook userbeaming in a smell at the burning apartment .
Update 1:32 necropsy EDT : Anaerial feedfrom WAVY - TV shows nearby cap knocked ( or burn down ) off from the good time .
Update 1:35 promethium EDT : Nearbyresidentsareclaimingon Twitter that one of the pilot film repeatedly excuse for the crash :
We are ok . Do know 2 pilots safety release & are at hospital . 1 kept rationalize that he crashed into our neighborhood .
the pilot light said”Im sorry for strike you building”Im like dude u just come through a # jetcrash it will be alright ! hat off to the Pilot
Update 1:38 PM EDT : NBC Newssaysboth pilots are hospitalized with non - life menace injuries .
Update 1:39 autopsy EDT : Local news has verbalize to a retire medic who was the first to reach one of the injure pilots .
Update 1:41 PM EDT : A Norfolk police ship’s officer wrote in to say he ’s gotten word of honor from his fellow policeman on the scene : “ Three or four apartments completely destroyed . ”
Update 1:42 PM EDT : Ross Groggsaysone of the fire front to be under control .
Update 1:46 PM EDT : VA Governor Bob McDonnell just issued a fairly standard statement :
“ We are taking all possible steps at the nation level to provide immediate resources and assistance to those touch on by the crash of an F-18 hero special K in Virginia Beach . In the past half 60 minutes I have spoken to Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms several times and inform him that all Commonwealth resources are available to him as the community respond to this breaking situation . We are monitoring consequence carefully as they unfold and State Police imagination are now on the scene . Our fervent entreaty is that no one was hurt or killed in this accident . ”
Update 1:47 PM EDT : CNNreportsthe local fire department still has n’t found anyone injured or received a observation of missing individual .
Update 1:50 PM EDT : Terrifying telecasting of the scene immediately after the plane strike ground .
Update 1:51 PM EDT : The second ejection seat ’s beendiscovered , in what looks like someone ’s yard . Luckily they were n’t gardening .
Update 1:54 PM EDT : Another close - upshotof the carpenter’s plane ’s aft section wind in flame — this must have been very soon after the crash .
Update 1:58 PM EDT : Morelocal news program coverageof the clangoring response .
Update 2:00 atomic number 61 EDT : More detailsstraightfrom the Navy :
Initial report argue that at approximately 12:05 p.m. , the jet crash just after pasquinade at a position just off of the cornerstone .
Update 2:05 PM EDT : Itlooks likethe 2nd ejection rear careened straight through a fence before break — understandable why these guys are in the hospital , sacrifice reports of at least one of the pilots still being attached to his chairperson at impact .
Update 2:06 PM EDT : Virginian - Pilot reporter Sarah Hutchinshas some disquieting newsworthiness :
complete topsy-turvyness out here . Still lack basic info about any casualties . Officials have not plump into apartment complex yet .
Update 2:08 PM EDT : Ross Grogg has some cheering word :
fires appear to be out . smashing job by parking brake crews on the earth .
Update 2:10 PM EDT : NBC 12saysfive civilians are now being process for injuries in plus to the two pilots .
Update 2:13 postmortem examination EST : From everything we can gather , it seems like most of ( if not all ) the fires have been snuff out — now it ’s a matter of triage and notice out just how tough it is inside those smashed building .
Update 2:16 PM EDT : Our chum atJalopnikcooked up this helpful single-valued function of the crash — that plane barely made it off the tarmac .
https://jalopnik.com/navy-f-18-fighter-jet-crashes-into-a-virginia-beach-apa-5899791
Update 2:21 post-mortem examination EDT : It ’s worth mentioning that jet fly - bys are nothing out of the average for this part of the state — the Virginia Beach area has an enormous military presence .
Update 2:23 atomic number 61 EDT : CNNsaysthe pilots assay , unsuccessfully , to steer their plane toward the ocean before crashing .
Update 2:26 PM EDT : Another cringe - inducingdetailfrom the Virginian - Pilot :
Ted Laffkas , 42 , was take the air out of his townhouse at 905 24th St. when he heard an explosion , look up to see two guy cable “ flying in the strain . ”
Update 2:32 autopsy EDT : For those of you unfamiliar with the F-18 , this photograph should assist impart a sense of scale . It ’s bombastic .
Update 2:44 PM EDT : Giz reader Alex sent in this chilling picture from the inside of the smoldering crash site .
Update 2:48 PM EDT : Reuters ’ Matthew Keys hasdetailsfrom a fervency section briefing :
No reports of missing hoi polloi from given . coordination compound where F-18 craft ram .
Fire official : Five buildings hard damaged from collapse ; four apartments in each construction .
Right now , asking people to stay aside . F-18 aircraft have carbon fibers , possibly in the smoke after crash .
pilot were “ witting , talk to us ” after F-18 collapse .
Update 2:56 PM EDT : Gripping account of one pilot ’s deliverance , via HamptonRoads.com :
Beane pulled his knife out to get down cutting the electric cord from the parachute and the pilot film regained consciousness .
“ He said , ‘ give thanks you , ' ” Beane said .
Then the archetype got quiet . He was looking around , daze .
“ He kept repeatedly say , ‘ Is everybody OK ? ' ” Beane said .
The pilot wanted to know if everyone in the apartment complex was safe and where his co - buffer was located .
Update 3:00 PM EDT : Another early TV from the crash backwash . scarily tight .
Update 3:06 PM EDT : From an eyewitness :
“ I hear those K fly over every night . I always feared this would happen . ”
Update 3:07 PM EDT : Fire authoritiessaythey’re now beginning to insert the buildings — or whatever ’s bequeath of them — though reigniting jet plane fuel is ca-ca things tricky .
Update 3:11 PM EDT : Firefighting crews are still spraying the wreckage and surrounding area withretardant foam
Update 3:22 PM EDT : Reporter Mike Lopezbrings this photo of the jet-propelled plane ’s smash canopy , seemingly cram into the side of an apartment .
Update 3:23 phase modulation EDT : Virginian - Pilot reporter Kerry Doughertysnapped this stroke of delivery personnel train to enter the flat ruins .
Update 3:30 PM EDT : Virginia BeachMayor Sessoms on the scenery : “ So far there have been no fatalities . I do n’t bear that to be the case by the end . ”
Update 3:31 postmortem examination EDT : The Virginian - Pilotpoints outanother grim factoid about the Navy base in interrogative today :
There have been more than 25 crashes involving Navy aircraft on or near the theme over the preceding four decades .
Update 3:53 postmortem EDT : ABC 13 News is reporting the area has been evacuated to keep residents protect against risky atomic number 6 fiber dispersed through the tune from the plane ’s body .
Update 4:00 postmortem examination EDT : ABC 13 News say the Navy is planning on to the full reassemble the F-18 , and urge occupant to abide off from debris . Apparently , even stir it is against the practice of law .
Update 4:02 PM EDT The pilot ’s dazed apology of “ I ’m good-for-naught for destroying your sign of the zodiac ” may be the demented part of this whole disaster .
plane crash
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