[BruceCroucshs]

2012-07-26 07:50:53 GMT | Reuters

An AV-8B Harrier fighter jet carrying live ordnance crashed Wednesday in Arizona,
making this at least the seventh Harrier to crash in eastern Imperial County since 1996.

The pilot involved in Wednesday’s crash ejected safely, a Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
official said.

All of the seven Harrier jets to crash in the county flew out of MCAS Yuma, according to
Imperial Valley Press archives. Six of those crashes were confirmed between 1996 and 2003.



It’s still unknown what caused Wednesday afternoon’s crash nor the extent of the pilot’s
injuries, MCAS Yuma spokeswoman Capt. Staci Reidinger said. However, she said the injuries
were thought to be minor.

After ejecting from the plane, the Marine Corps pilot called from his cell phone to alert of his
location, Reidinger said.

A search and rescue team found the pilot, who was then transferred to Yuma Regional Medical
Center between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., she said. The crash occurred about 3:30 p.m.