The F/A-18D that crashed in March 2022 near Beaufort was brought on by bird strikes into the airplane’s engines according to the crash examination report launched to Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet on Tuesday afternoon. The fighter jet was based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and the crash took place on land owned by among the state’s previous guvs.
These information and others arise from a fifteen-month-long Marine Corps examination into the crash’s cause. First Lieutenant Hudson E. Sadler, a Marine Corps representative said, “the bird strike and subsequent fire resulted in a serious situation for the aircrew, and we’re grateful both pilots survived with relatively minor injuries.”
Recapping the March occasion
The $37 million F/A-18D crashed near Halfmoon Island simply north of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on March 3, 2022, triggering a fire that spread out throughout 40 acres and burned numerous 100-year-old live oak trees. The Coosaw Plantation land is owned by the family of previous South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.
The jet was connected to the second Marine Aircraft Wing. According to Military.com, The F/A-18D is utilized mostly ”for attack, tactical air control, forward air control and reconnaissance squadrons.” It runs as a two-seater jet. Before the fighter jet crashed and took off, 2 pilots ejected securely by pulling an ejection deal with that released one cockpit followed by the other.
Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, second Marine Aircraft Wing carried out the examination, which is now total and backed, Hudson said. Prior to the Tuesday release of info, the Marine Corps had actually not offered any information about the reason for the crash.
The fighter jet was 28 years old and nearing completion of its life span. It had actually flown 8,318 flight hours of its 9,000-hour life span.
The Marine Corps said the fighter jet’s age and flight hours were not consider the crash. “The review of its maintenance records showed it was properly maintained in accordance with all publications and safe for flight.”
