The Navy confirmed the death of the pilot whose plane crashed in the Mojave Desert during a training mission earlier this week.
“The Navy mourns the loss of one of our own and our thoughts go out to the family and friends affected by this tragedy,” the Navy said in a Thursday statement.
The crash, which involved an F/A-18E Super Hornet jet, occurred Wednesday morning in Death Valley National Park.
At approximately 10:00 a.m PST an F/A-18E crashed near @NAWS_CL. Search-and-rescue efforts are underway.
— flynavy (@flynavy) July 31, 2019
Seven individuals observing the exercise on the ground sustained minor injuries according to Patrick Taylor, a park spokesman.
The Navy will withhold the name of the pilot until a day after they notify his nearest relative in accordance with Department of Defense policy.
The crash is still being investigated.
