Posted on 04/06/2012 9:53:59 AM PDT by pgkdan
No other details as yet. Just reported as an emergency blurb on local radio. Prayers requested for all affected!
A Navy F-18 out of NAS Oceana has crashed into an apartment comp0lex in Virginia Beach VA at the intersection of Birdneck Rd and I 264.
I was mistaken...she is not in Virginia Beach. Prayers for all involved!
At the other link a man stated he talked to one pilot that was in shock but didn’t seem to have other injuries and he apologized for their jet coming down in the apartment complex.
My husband and I spent a year in an apartment that was that was in the flight path of NAS Oceana. The planes were pretty low—close to the treetops when they flew over. Loud and unnerving at times.
Heading to church in a bit and I’ll say some extra prayers for those affected.
The pilot...bless his heart...apologized for crashing into the building as he was being carried from the scene.
Wow! its amazing no one was hurt.
Whew!
I will hazard a guess they ejected as late as possible; beyond a certain point they can’t control where it crashes and there’s no point in them sacrificing their lives by riding it into the ground if they can no longer affect where it crashes.
Indeed. I was relieved that it wasn’t close to her. I’ll bet she can see the smoke, though.
Yeah, that’s not good. That building looks like it is cut in half.
It’s good morning to spend at church.
Is this anywhere near you?
Really?
It’s a miracle, if true!
>Aren’t pilots not supposed to eject until they know this won’t happen?
Pilots do all they can to get their craft away from populations and when it’s impossible to control it further
the only recourse is to punch out. No need to go down with a craft that is uncontrollable.
Navy son stuck on 264 near Rosemont. Says he thinks road closed from Rosemont to Oceanfront.
Comment from poster in the area:
It hit an apartment building, or close to one near Old Virginia Beach Off Birdneck. Pray for everyone over there, it’s very thick smoke.
**Off Birdneck, you go north. The first right is Old VA Beach Road. Down that road to the east, maybe a block or two is an apartment complex. That is where it went down.
All things considered, this appears to be a very good outcome. There are still no reported deaths and only 5 civilians taken to the hospital. That might just be for smoke inhalation.
You may remember that I lived for many years in that area, right there around Birdneck and Laskin Roads. Locals there are well aware of the potential for disaster from the military air traffic.
It used to irritate me to no end when I’d hear some damn tourist complain about the jet noise. I would always make it a point to tell them “that’s the price we pay for freedom”. It would always shut them up and made me feel alot better! LOL!
Anyone heard from Mojo yet?
I just spoke to my wife. Channel3 is reporting that 5 people have been airlifted. To Norfolk General. They have a large burn unit.
Just wondering if it could be traced to defective parts MADE IN CHINA.
Not that I know of. I pinged her, but I don’t think she’s on the computer much.
Guy’s saying on news the wing seperated from the aircraft and therfore little control of the plane.
Look at the difference in configuration of the exhaust nozzles of the two engines. It looks like the left engine may have failed during climbout.
A photo of the aft portion with engines shows the port engine outlet in standard thrust and the starboard engine is in full afterburner configuration. Interesting.
Not likely unless Lockheed Martin committed fraud, which is just as unlikely.
Not likely unless Lockheed Martin committed fraud, which is just as unlikely.
Navy has press conference at 3:00 about 5 minutes on what happened with the plane...here:
http://www.wavy.com/generic/news/WAVY_Newscast_Live_Stream
It will be a miracle if there are no deaths on the ground. With the fires contolled they will be going through the debris shortly if they haven’t done so already. I hope the injuries are not too serious.
I was wondering how far this area is from where you lived, sounds like it’s pretty darn close. It’s strange how people get used to the noise of jet aircraft when they live in a flightpath. I had an aunt and uncle who lived in the LAX fightpath years ago. The noise didn’t seem to bother them but it sure bothered the rest of us. :-)
Praying there no more injuries or deaths.
Wing sabotaged?
Three buildings down two heavily damaged.
Minor quibble, McDonnell Douglas makes the F-18, not Lockheed.
The engine are GE.
Not a chance there are no deaths. This was a senior citizen complex and today was a chilly, breezy day. There were likely a lot of people in those buildings.
Awaiting an answer, but they are further north. Everyone should be home.
2:58 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2012
Updates: The American Red Cross, in coordination with local emergency management, is responding to the crash in Virginia Beach with disaster relief teams en route to assist affected residents.
Residents needing assistance as a result of the crash can contact the Red Cross at 757-536-9859
Crews are advising residents in the area to close their windows and to stay away from the area because of air quality concerns caused by the jet fuel.
According to Dale Gauding, Corporate Communications Consultant at Sentara Healthcare, around five civilians were admitted to the hospital.
ABC just reported 3 injuries on the ground.
It's an amazing miracle and a testimony to the skills of the pilots and ground crews there hasn't been some major crashes over the years. People forget this area was not densely populated when the bases were being built. Tidewater being a Defense/Military base area built up in large to related jobs. I've seen some old photos my uncle took when he lived near Trashmore.
If no one was killed I'd call it a Good Friday Miracle. Watch for the media to start hammering pilots and military over the crash. I do think some assets need to be relocated away from Tidewater but not for the specific reason we saw today.
No.
You do all you can to avoid it, but when the condition of your aircraft reaches the point where you no longer have any ability to influence where the crash site will be you yank the loud handle and punch outta there.
There's no sense adding two more fatalities to however many there may or may not end up being on the ground.
Can you or anyone provide an update from the press conference please? Thank you in advance.
So far via the hospital 6 brought in...2 pilots...one ok the other fair. One police officer hurt on the scene....one treated for smoke inhilation and released ....the others minor injuries.
They continue to search the buildings....
On the phone now....Mojo2001 and family are on the peninsula and they can see the smoke. All are fine.
Oh good...thank you Kathy....wonderful news.
U.S. Navy jet crashes in Virginia; 2 pilots believed to have ejected
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/u-navy-jet-crashes-virginia-2-pilots-believed-174703258.html
Latest developments (3:00 pm ET)
· No reported fatalities, but least five people taken to hospital with injuries
· Search for victims is underway
· Pilots reportedly safe
Officials have confirmed that a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet jet has crashed in Virginia after taking off from U.S. Naval Air Station Oceana, with the two pilots believed to have ejected before impact.
An F/A-18D is potentially quite old. If a wing fell off it’s more likely the result of metal fatigue.
An F-18 navy jet sits on the ground after crashing into an apartment building in Virginia Beach,
pictured in this aerial frame grab from video on April 6 2012. REUTERS/WAVY TV/Handout
If the wing did fall off or was damaged couldn’t that explain this? I seem to recall an F-15 that landed with one wing shot off and I thought he controlled it by doing something with the thrust on each engine to keep it airborne. Maybe I am mistaken.
Press conference hasn’t happened yet..still waiting...although hospital personel reported 6 brought in..none life threatening. Search of buildings continues.
Firefighters work to control the blaze after the crash of an F-18 navy jet into an apartment building in Virginia Beach,
pictured in this aerial frame grab from video on April 6 2012. REUTERS/WAVY TV/Handout
Once again live link...conference coming up and waiting...
http://www.wavy.com/generic/news/WAVY_Newscast_Live_Stream
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