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US Navy pilot killed in F-18 jet crash in Cambridgeshire Fens US Navy pilot killed in F-18 jet crash in Cambridgeshire Fens
(35 minutes later)
A US Navy pilot has died in an F-18 jet crash in the Fens in Cambridgeshire, close to an RAF base.A US Navy pilot has died in an F-18 jet crash in the Fens in Cambridgeshire, close to an RAF base.
The Hornet crashed on farm land in Redmere, near Ely, close to the Suffolk border, with the alarm raised at 10:30 BST.The Hornet crashed on farm land in Redmere, near Ely, close to the Suffolk border, with the alarm raised at 10:30 BST.
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the pilot, the only crew member, died.Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the pilot, the only crew member, died.
The aircraft had taken off from RAF Lakenheath, but was not connected to the base.The aircraft had taken off from RAF Lakenheath, but was not connected to the base.
Follow live updates here.Follow live updates here.
It crashed four miles from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.It crashed four miles from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said it sent two crews, which were stood down within two hours.Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said it sent two crews, which were stood down within two hours.
"No firefighting or rescue action was required, but they remained on scene in a support capacity," the spokeswoman said."No firefighting or rescue action was required, but they remained on scene in a support capacity," the spokeswoman said.
A witness to the US jet crash in Redmere has said she wanted to thank the family of the dead pilot, and he was a "great pilot".
Karen Miles-Holdaway from Shippea Hill, described the noise as pretty horrendous and said she could feel the ground move.
Amateur aviation enthusiast Roger Smith told BBC Radio Suffolk that the F-18 was one of a group of Hornet Marine Corps planes that were heading back to the US from the Middle East.Amateur aviation enthusiast Roger Smith told BBC Radio Suffolk that the F-18 was one of a group of Hornet Marine Corps planes that were heading back to the US from the Middle East.
They arrived at Lakenheath over the weekend and four of them took off this morning.They arrived at Lakenheath over the weekend and four of them took off this morning.
At the scene: Kate Bradbrook, BBC Look East
This remote location is just a few miles from the Lakenheath and Mildenhall air bases. It's also close to Ely and the Suffolk border.
There are just a few houses surrounded by fields, a large media presence and two police officers guarding the area.
A narrow lane leads down to where I believe the crash happened. Nearby there are workers in the fields carrying on with their jobs.
Details are still incredibly sketchy.
Plane spotters have told us that it was one of four planes to have taken off. We understand the plane was en route to the United States and probably came down shortly after take-off.