Pilot ejects before fighter jet crashes into mountain in Washington state woodlands

The pilot of a military fighter jet escaped with minor injuries after the aircraft crashed into a Washington state mountain and sparked a brush fire Saturday, authorities said

The pilot of a military fighter jet escaped with minor injuries after the aircraft crashed into a Washington state mountain and sparked a brush fire Saturday, authorities said.

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A Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing statement described the crash around noon as a “non-fatal aviation mishap” involving one of its F/A-18 Hornet aircraft based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California.

It said the combat jet was “conducting routine training” when it went down, the pilot ejected safety and local sheriff’s officials recovered the marine.