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Navy jet hits housing complex

April 6, 2012

A fighter jet has crashed into a housing complex in the US state of Virginia. Seven people were taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

https://p.dw.com/p/14Z7F
The burning fuselage of an F/A-18 Hornet lies smoldering after crashing into a residential building in Virginia Beach, Va., Friday, April 6, 2012.
Image: AP

Seven people have been injured after a US Navy F-18 fighter jet crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach, south of Washington, DC, on Friday.

The plane and the buildings burst into flames as a result of the impact.

Virginia Beach fire chief Tim Reilly told the US-based news network CNN that a total of five buildings had sustained "significant damage."

Both crew members ejected from the plane prior to the crash and hospital officials said they were among those being treated for their injuries. None of the injuries were said to be life threatening.

The head of Virginia Beach emergency services, Bruce Nedelka, said it appeared that the pilots had dumped fuel from the jet prior to the crash, possibly avoiding a far greater crisis.

He also said that the fire had since been extinguished and that rescue crews were searching the buildings for anyone who may have been inside at the time of the crash.

A US Navy spokesman said the two pilots were on a training flight when the accident occurred. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately clear.

pfd/tm (dpa, Reuters, AFP, AP)