F-18 Crashes in San Diego

[Darandio]

Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere, couldn't find it on here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7772344.stm

 

[Broken Viking]

Ouch...That isn't good at all! The report says that the pilot and co-pilot managed to eject from the aircraft, but that wouyldn't have been an option for the potential hundreds who might've been in the area when the aircraft came down... hock:ad::cry:

My only hope is that - By some good fortune - No-one was killed or seriously injured in the incident. ad:

 

[Darandio]

According to initial reports on CNN, there was only the pilot on board (don't know how strange that is?) and he ejected safely. A house and two cars caught fire, no word on casualties on the ground.
Apparently the jet had performed a successful landing on an aircraft carrier
(presumably in training) and been less than 2 miles from the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar whe it crashed.

 

[adamp]

No casualties

 

[Bighat]

Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere, couldn't find it on here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7772344.stm

It was reported on the Midnight News on BBC Radio 4

 

[mbonwick]

That BBC page is reporting 3 dead, not the pilot though.

 

[Spaceflower]

3 dead, 1 missing. I wonder why they initially reported no casualties?

 

[mbonwick]

Perhaps they didn't originally know how many people were in the buildings, and they only found out when they started finding corpses?

Interesting to note who the plane belonged to - the US Marines (Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Essential)

 

[Bighat]

Perhaps they didn't originally know how many people were in the buildings, and they only found out when they started finding corpses?

Interesting to note who the plane belonged to - the US Marines (Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Essential)

Semper Fi to that

 

[Spaceflower]

Perhaps they didn't originally know how many people were in the buildings, and they only found out when they started finding corpses?

Yeah but surely if they didn't know if there were people in the buildings, they shouldn't have been so quick to report no casualties and comment on how lucky it was? Seems a bit strange/silly to me.

 

[mbonwick]

Remember - This is America we are talking about. Anything we think of as stupid or silly is seen as clever or intelligent over there.

 

[Spaceflower]

True.

I remember when the Californian wildfires were found to be started deliberately. Arnie was on the news and said (directed at those responsible): ''We are right behind you''

Good old Arnie, eh.

 

[mbonwick]

Well, they are American, so I guess it's understandable if they're a bit different

 

[Bighat]

Well, they are American, so I guess it's understandable if they're a bit different

I think is is quite easy, if not fashionable, to snigger at all things American.

Having travelled extensively in the USA over the last 30 years (and unfortunately I do have to generalise), I have found the average American to be nothing like the stereotypical version of the 'Yank over here image', big, brash, fat and mouthy. Only about 3% of the population have ever needed a passport!

Alone on this forum, we have seemed to develop a North versus South fraternity (all in the BEST possible taste of course), but imagine the sheer diversity in a country where the UK will fit in to one corner of many states, yet they only have four times or so our population!

Whilst visiting a USAF Air Base just outside Phoenix, Arizona, I met a party of ROTC Cadets (rather like our ATC or CCF) who had been bussed about 100 miles to Scotsdale (also in Arizona) wher they had just experienced a freak snow storm. None of these young people have EVER seen snow before, and most of the have NEVER seen the sea either! it's a LONG way from where they live.

On my way to Phoenix, I had driven down from a small town on Interstate 66 (in Arizona too). I travelled the 250 miles or so in late afternoon/early evening parrallel with the Rocky Mountains without seeing a single building, nor a phone box, passing another car, or even any farm animals.

It can be that desolate, it's so big. Lucky I had refuelled first!

Perhaps THAT'S why they appear different!

 

[Spaceflower]

Interesting stuff but don't take our humour too seriously, Bighat.