A Navy fighter pilot ejected safely from a jet before it crashed late Tuesday morning in eastern Kern County, authorities said. The F/A-18E Super Hornet jet from the Lemoore Naval Air Station crashed during a routine training flight in the Superior Valley, just south of China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, according to a statement by the Lemoore station. The pilot was taken to a medical facility for examination, according to Navy officials. AdvertisementOfficials with the Kern County Fire Department confirmed that an aircraft went down shortly before noon near Highway 14 and Highway 178 in Ridgecrest. The crash sparked a brush fire that has since been extinguished, said Andrew Freeborn, Kern County Fire Department spokesman.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 20, 2020 20:32 UTC