FILE IMAGE: AV-8B Harrier II jet
A US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II jet crashed in Djibouti, in East Africa, on April 3, the US Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement. The pilot was able to eject before the crash.
“An AV-8B Harrier pilot is receiving medical care after ejecting during takeoff from from Djibouti Ambouli International Airport, Djibouti, April 3, 2018, just after 4:00 p.m. local time.
Assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 and embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, the aircraft crashed after the pilot ejected.
Doctors said the pilot was in stable condition while being evaluated at Camp Lemonnier’s expeditionary medical facility.
There are no reports of injuries to personnel on the ground nor damage to infrastructure at the airport. The airport is open.
The cause of the accident is under investigation,” the Naval Forces Central Command’s statement reads.
According to reports, the AV-8B Harrier II jet was supporting Alligator Dagger, a training exercise in international waters off the coast of Djibouti.
Some 4,000 US service members are stationed at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.
