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| US Navy F-18 crashes in residential Virginia | US Navy F-18 crashes in residential Virginia |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A US Navy F-18 jet has crashed shortly after take off in a residential area near Virginia Beach, Virginia. | A US Navy F-18 jet has crashed shortly after take off in a residential area near Virginia Beach, Virginia. |
| A navy spokesman told the BBC that the plane went down just before 12:08 (16:08 GMT) and two crew members ejected safely. | |
| The plane hit an apartment building, with photos showing flames and black smoke rising from behind houses. | The plane hit an apartment building, with photos showing flames and black smoke rising from behind houses. |
| Both pilots and four other people, including a firefighter, are being treated for injuries. | |
| One person has already been released from Virginia Beach hospital, and there have been no reports of fatalities. | |
| The cause of the crash is not yet known. | The cause of the crash is not yet known. |
| Pentagon spokesman George Little used Twitter to say Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was being kept informed: "#SecDef is closely monitoring F-18 crash in Virginia Beach; concerned about potential loss of life and injuries." | Pentagon spokesman George Little used Twitter to say Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was being kept informed: "#SecDef is closely monitoring F-18 crash in Virginia Beach; concerned about potential loss of life and injuries." |
| 'What could have been' | |
| The plane was based at the nearby Oceana naval air station where it was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, the Navy said. | |
| Local residents quickly began distributing pictures of burning buildings through social media websites, but officials said the blaze was brought under control. | Local residents quickly began distributing pictures of burning buildings through social media websites, but officials said the blaze was brought under control. |
| A significant amount of damage has been done to at least one apartment building located near the centre of town, with reports of damage to other buildings in the area, | A significant amount of damage has been done to at least one apartment building located near the centre of town, with reports of damage to other buildings in the area, |
| Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said: "We are taking all possible steps at the state level to provide immediate resources and assistance to those impacted by the crash. Our fervent prayer is that no-one was injured or killed in this accident." | Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said: "We are taking all possible steps at the state level to provide immediate resources and assistance to those impacted by the crash. Our fervent prayer is that no-one was injured or killed in this accident." |
| Witnesses told local media that just before the crash they saw the plane empty its fuel tank. | Witnesses told local media that just before the crash they saw the plane empty its fuel tank. |
| Bruce Nedelka, a Virginia Beach emergency official said that fuel was found on buildings and vehicles in the area. | |
| "By doing so, he [the pilot] mitigated what could have been an absolute massive, massive fireball and fire," Mr Nedelka told the Associated Press. | |
| "With all of that jet fuel dumped, it was much less than what it could have been." | |
| 'Burst into flames' | |
| One witness, Jon Swain, told US news station MSNBC: "There were flames coming out of its engine at the back, which I just thought was afterburn or whatever... but the plane got lower and lower. | One witness, Jon Swain, told US news station MSNBC: "There were flames coming out of its engine at the back, which I just thought was afterburn or whatever... but the plane got lower and lower. |
| "I saw one pilot eject. I understand there were two, but I only saw one. And then you know, probably five seconds later, I was at the building where it hit. It burst into flames." | "I saw one pilot eject. I understand there were two, but I only saw one. And then you know, probably five seconds later, I was at the building where it hit. It burst into flames." |
| A woman who lived nearby said she saw the plane hit and saw the "whole backyard" on fire. | |
| "I've lived here for 14 years and I knew something like this was going to happen," she told a local station. | |
| Pat Kavanaugh told CNN he found one of the ejected pilots in the wreckage. | Pat Kavanaugh told CNN he found one of the ejected pilots in the wreckage. |
| The pilot was still strapped in his seat with a parachute attached and Mr Kavanuagh and others moved the pilot away from the flames. | The pilot was still strapped in his seat with a parachute attached and Mr Kavanuagh and others moved the pilot away from the flames. |
| He said the pilot told him, "I'm so sorry I crashed into your building." | He said the pilot told him, "I'm so sorry I crashed into your building." |
| A nearby highway, Interstate 264, has been closed in both directions, local officials said. | A nearby highway, Interstate 264, has been closed in both directions, local officials said. |
| Virginia Beach is a resort city located on the southern coastline of the mid-Atlantic state of Virginia. | Virginia Beach is a resort city located on the southern coastline of the mid-Atlantic state of Virginia. |
| The city is home to about 438,000 people and several US military bases. | The city is home to about 438,000 people and several US military bases. |