A FIGHTER pilot has ditched a $26 million jet into a wooded area of Washington during a botched military training mission.
The man ejected from the F-16 moments before it crashed into a suburban neighbourhood five kilometres from a military base, missing homes by just 200 metres.
“Planes fly over our homes all the time,” 56-year-old resident Reginald Stewart told the Associated Press.
“You never think the day’s going to come that it’s really going to crash into your house, into your backyard.”
Neighbour Tony Hollingsworth said the “house shook” when the jet made impact, and that he heard the what “sounded like a shootout” in the woods.
Military officials later confirmed the jet was armed with “training rounds,” which are real bullets that lack the explosive capabilities of combat rounds.
Lt. Colonel Michael Croker said the pilot tried to turn back but ran out of time. Picture: Sait Serkan GurbuzSource:AP
The cause of the crash is being investigated, but Lieutenant Colonel Michael Corker said the pilot tried to turn back to the base after encountering trouble.
He said the pilot “wasn’t able to make it in time” and decided to dump fuel before ejecting while he was still about 800 metres from the ground.
“The only conversation I’ve had with him thus far is to give him a big bro hug, because he’s OK, in the hospital,” Corker said.
