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The pilot of a military fighter jet escaped with minor injuries after the aircraft crashed into a Washington state mountain and sparked a brush fire Saturday, authorities said.
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A Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing statement described the crash around noon as a \u201cnon-fatal aviation mishap\u201d involving one of its F\/A-18 Hornet aircraft based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California.
It said the combat jet was \u201cconducting routine training\u201d when it went down, the pilot ejected safety and local sheriff\u2019s officials recovered the marine.
The pilot was hospitalized following the crash near Rimrock Lake, the Naches Fire Department said. A Yakima County Sheriff\u2019s Department mountain pass deputy made contact with the pilot after the wreck, the department said.
The fire department said it and the U.S. Forest Service responded to a wildfire sparked by the wreckage.
\u201cOur units have completed structure protection near the Bear Creek cabins and have just cleared the scene,\u201d the fire department said, adding that its water tender would remain on the scene and likely return Sunday \u201cto support mop up operations of the fire.\u201d
The cause of the crash was under investigation, which could take months, the Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said.
\u201cTo preserve the integrity of the investigation, no additional details are available at this time,\u201d it said in its statement.
The area of the crash appears to fall within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and is roughly 125 miles southeast of Seattle.
Bill Feather is an assignment editor for NBC Los Angeles who covers general assignment and daily breaking news, primarily in Southern California.
Angela Dallman is a producer for NBC News based in Minneapolis.
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