U.S. Navy F/A-18E fighter crash: pilot ejected safely

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet crashed during a routine sortie in the Superior Valley, just south of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake late Tuesday, according to a statement issued by Naval Air Station Lemoore.

“The pilot ejected safely and was taken to a local medical facility for examination,” Naval Air Station officials said in a statement.

Also added that the U.S. Navy is cooperating fully with local authorities.

Local Firefighters say they found a downed plane Tuesday morning in the area of Highway 178 and Highway 14 and were containing a small fire ignited by the crash.

The plane crashed near the intersection of Highway 178 and Highway 14 around 12:30 pm, the California Highway Patrol told ABC affiliate KERO-TV.