F/A-18 Hornet crashes in Washington state, wildfire subsequently reported
By Riley Ceder
Jun 15, 2026, 12:25 PM
A pilot safely ejected from an F/A-18 Hornet on Saturday after experiencing an aviation mishap 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.
The jet, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was conducting a routine training exercise when it crashed, the service confirmed.
“The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation,” the Marine Corps said.
The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office received calls around 12:15 p.m. involving a military plane that crashed into a mountain in the area of Rimrock Lake.
A law enforcement officer responded to the scene and helped transport a pilot who’d ejected from the jet to a hospital, where he recovered from minor injuries.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2026/06/15/fa-18-hornet-crashes-in-washington-state-wildfire-subsequently-reported/
