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| US pilot killed in F-18 jet crash in Cambridgeshire named | US pilot killed in F-18 jet crash in Cambridgeshire named |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The US pilot who died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed in a Cambridgeshire field has been named as Major Taj Sareen of the Marine Corps. | The US pilot who died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed in a Cambridgeshire field has been named as Major Taj Sareen of the Marine Corps. |
| The 34-year-old was killed when his jet came down on farmland at Redmere, near RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, on Wednesday. | The 34-year-old was killed when his jet came down on farmland at Redmere, near RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, on Wednesday. |
| His squadron had just set off from RAF Lakenheath back to the US. | His squadron had just set off from RAF Lakenheath back to the US. |
| The pilot, who lived in San Mateo County, California, became a Marine Corps pilot in 2005. | The pilot, who lived in San Mateo County, California, became a Marine Corps pilot in 2005. |
| 'Sombre mood' | |
| He graduated from the University of San Francisco (USF) in 2004. | |
| US ABC7 news photographer Chris Jewitt, who attended USF with Major Sareen, told the news network: "He had this confidence and this infectious smile. | US ABC7 news photographer Chris Jewitt, who attended USF with Major Sareen, told the news network: "He had this confidence and this infectious smile. |
| "When he came in the room everyone wanted to talk to him." | "When he came in the room everyone wanted to talk to him." |
| Major Sareen, the father of a young girl, ejected from the plane but did not survive, The US Marine Corps said. | Major Sareen, the father of a young girl, ejected from the plane but did not survive, The US Marine Corps said. |
| Colonel Robert Novotny, Commander of 48th fighter wing RAF Lakenheath, said: "We are very sad about the loss of a fellow team member. We are ready to assist in any way in the investigation." | Colonel Robert Novotny, Commander of 48th fighter wing RAF Lakenheath, said: "We are very sad about the loss of a fellow team member. We are ready to assist in any way in the investigation." |
| He said Marine Corps investigators were arriving later and would lead the probe, which was expected to take two to three months. | He said Marine Corps investigators were arriving later and would lead the probe, which was expected to take two to three months. |
| "The mood is very sombre on the base, but very professional," he added. | "The mood is very sombre on the base, but very professional," he added. |
| The aircraft was part of a fleet of six fighter jets due to fly to California, the US air force said. | The aircraft was part of a fleet of six fighter jets due to fly to California, the US air force said. |
| The remaining five FA-18 Hornets safely diverted to RAF Lossiemouth airfield in Moray. The aircraft had been en-route from Bahrain and were scheduled to fly to their base in Miramar. | The remaining five FA-18 Hornets safely diverted to RAF Lossiemouth airfield in Moray. The aircraft had been en-route from Bahrain and were scheduled to fly to their base in Miramar. |
| F-18 Hornet facts | F-18 Hornet facts |