Aces21 0 Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Two military jets crashed into the Columbia River in Eastern Oregon Wednesday afternoon. The FAA says two Navy F-18 fighter jets crashed around 2:30 p.m. near Arlington Oregon. Those jets are based out of Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego and the fighter group is in Portland on a training mission. Witnesses told KATU that they heard a loud explosion and many others saw a fireball above the river before the fighters tumbled into the water. "We saw an explosion and a boom, and we saw a plane coming down in flames," said one witness. Witnesses also told KATU they saw multiple parachutes in the sky after the crash. "One man parachuting, something like a canopy spinning in the sky, to the east of that I saw another man parachuting, " said Amanda Wilson, the wife of an Arlington Sheriff's Deputy. "I do know that one man landed on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, and another one landed in Arlington, and another one landed on the Washington side of the river." The crash happened east of the Navy's test bombing range five miles southwest Boardman. Although the site was decommissioned in 2000, some planes continue to use the low level flight routes in the area. The site features mobile targets for practice by Navy jets, particularly those out of Whidbey Island in Washington. From what I heard on the news a F/A-18C and a D model (C=single seat D is a 2 seater) crashed while performing a run at a firing range. Both pilot and R.I.O in the D died. It is know known that they died of drowning in the Columbia River. The pilot in the C model is in good condition at a local hospotal. My thoughts are with the surviving aviator and with the familys of the killed pilots Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tyovan4 4 Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 RIP And best wishes for a speedy recovery to the surviving pilot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crimson 0 Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 RIP I take it these aircraft didnt crash head on. I hate these types of freak accidents. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GothicSnake 0 Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 RIP I take it these aircraft didnt crash head on. I hate these types of freak accidents. It sounds like that's what happened, my condolences to their loved ones and my best wishes that the survivors have a speedy recovery. I wonder what happened to cause the crash? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CtheHammer 0 Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I just found out tonight that the RIO of the F/A-18 D is a guy I had gotten to know from church. I had a lot of respect for him, particularly after he told me about all the times he had been injured before during training (almost lost a leg in one accident), yet he kept on going back to do it some more because of his strong sense of duty and patriotism. Despite all that had happened to him, he adhered to and followed the principles of honor, courage, and committment; God, Corps, country. Captain Jeffrey Ross, USMC, you will be missed. C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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