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Fighter jet crashes during landing in California; pilot ejects safely

By Andrew V. Pestano
On Tuesday, officials said a pilot ejected safely from an F/A-18 fighter jet, similar to the one pictured, that crashed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. File Photo by Noel Hepp/U.S. Navy
On Tuesday, officials said a pilot ejected safely from an F/A-18 fighter jet, similar to the one pictured, that crashed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. File Photo by Noel Hepp/U.S. Navy | License Photo

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Officials said a pilot ejected safely from an F/A-18 fighter jet that crashed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

The pilot, stationed with an aviation group in South Carolina, was hospitalized with minor injuries Tuesday, 1st Lt. John Roberts said.

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An investigation into the crash, which appeared to occur while the plane was landing, has been launched.

"The pilot ejected," Roberts said. "There are no injuries, based on the reports we have right now. They were going to take him to a hospital ... as a precaution ... The initial reports were that he'd already touched down."

The base in the middle of the Mojave Desert is used to train Marines and sailors for forward deployments in realistic settings.

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