Marine Corps F/A-18 crashes in Washington state, sparks wildfire

A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state this afternoon, sparking a wildfire in the area that required several helicopters to suppress.

The crash happened at approximately noon today, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing announced Saturday evening. The Hornet, part of Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, “experienced a non-fatal aviation mishap while conducting routine training.”

The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by the local sheriff’s department, the Marine Corps said. The Naches Fire Department, which responded to the fire, added that the pilot was taken to a local hospital.

The cause of the mishap is under investigation, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said.

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The crash occurred near Rimrock Lake, southeast of Mount Rainier. The Naches Fire Department said that campers are being evacuated from the area and that as of 4:45 p.m. local time that the “area should be avoided for the foreseeable future.” Multiple helicopters and at least one fire engine responded to the blaze.

This is not the first crash to happen near Mount Rainier in recent years. In 2024, a Navy EA-18G Growler crashed near the area on Oct. 15 during a “routine training mission,” killing the two members of its crew. The Growler crashed in a remote area near the mountain, with a large search effort following, which included a Navy spy plane and soldiers from 1st Special Forces Group.