An F-18 navy jet sits on the ground after crashing into an apartment building in Virginia Beach,
pictured in this aerial frame grab from video on April 6 2012. REUTERS/WAVY TV/Handout
Posted on 04/06/2012 9:53:59 AM PDT by pgkdan
No other details as yet. Just reported as an emergency blurb on local radio. Prayers requested for all affected!
A Navy F-18 out of NAS Oceana has crashed into an apartment comp0lex in Virginia Beach VA at the intersection of Birdneck Rd and I 264.
Three buildings down two heavily damaged.
Minor quibble, McDonnell Douglas makes the F-18, not Lockheed.
The engine are GE.
Not a chance there are no deaths. This was a senior citizen complex and today was a chilly, breezy day. There were likely a lot of people in those buildings.
Awaiting an answer, but they are further north. Everyone should be home.
2:58 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2012
Updates: The American Red Cross, in coordination with local emergency management, is responding to the crash in Virginia Beach with disaster relief teams en route to assist affected residents.
Residents needing assistance as a result of the crash can contact the Red Cross at 757-536-9859
Crews are advising residents in the area to close their windows and to stay away from the area because of air quality concerns caused by the jet fuel.
According to Dale Gauding, Corporate Communications Consultant at Sentara Healthcare, around five civilians were admitted to the hospital.
ABC just reported 3 injuries on the ground.
It's an amazing miracle and a testimony to the skills of the pilots and ground crews there hasn't been some major crashes over the years. People forget this area was not densely populated when the bases were being built. Tidewater being a Defense/Military base area built up in large to related jobs. I've seen some old photos my uncle took when he lived near Trashmore.
If no one was killed I'd call it a Good Friday Miracle. Watch for the media to start hammering pilots and military over the crash. I do think some assets need to be relocated away from Tidewater but not for the specific reason we saw today.
No.
You do all you can to avoid it, but when the condition of your aircraft reaches the point where you no longer have any ability to influence where the crash site will be you yank the loud handle and punch outta there.
There's no sense adding two more fatalities to however many there may or may not end up being on the ground.
Can you or anyone provide an update from the press conference please? Thank you in advance.
So far via the hospital 6 brought in...2 pilots...one ok the other fair. One police officer hurt on the scene....one treated for smoke inhilation and released ....the others minor injuries.
They continue to search the buildings....
On the phone now....Mojo2001 and family are on the peninsula and they can see the smoke. All are fine.
Oh good...thank you Kathy....wonderful news.
U.S. Navy jet crashes in Virginia; 2 pilots believed to have ejected
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/u-navy-jet-crashes-virginia-2-pilots-believed-174703258.html
Latest developments (3:00 pm ET)
· No reported fatalities, but least five people taken to hospital with injuries
· Search for victims is underway
· Pilots reportedly safe
Officials have confirmed that a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet jet has crashed in Virginia after taking off from U.S. Naval Air Station Oceana, with the two pilots believed to have ejected before impact.
An F/A-18D is potentially quite old. If a wing fell off it’s more likely the result of metal fatigue.
An F-18 navy jet sits on the ground after crashing into an apartment building in Virginia Beach,
pictured in this aerial frame grab from video on April 6 2012. REUTERS/WAVY TV/Handout
If the wing did fall off or was damaged couldn’t that explain this? I seem to recall an F-15 that landed with one wing shot off and I thought he controlled it by doing something with the thrust on each engine to keep it airborne. Maybe I am mistaken.
Press conference hasn’t happened yet..still waiting...although hospital personel reported 6 brought in..none life threatening. Search of buildings continues.
Firefighters work to control the blaze after the crash of an F-18 navy jet into an apartment building in Virginia Beach,
pictured in this aerial frame grab from video on April 6 2012. REUTERS/WAVY TV/Handout
Once again live link...conference coming up and waiting...
http://www.wavy.com/generic/news/WAVY_Newscast_Live_Stream
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