Was Returning To Base Following Training Op

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 12.29.08 1530 EST: The Marine Corps pilot of a single-seat AV-8B Harrier II that crashed Monday in eastern North Carolina was killed in the accident, USMC officials confirmed.

The accident occurred at about 12:30 pm EST as the jet returned to base following a training operation. The jet impacted in an unpopulated area about one mile east of MCAS Cherry Point.

The pilot's name was withheld pending notification of relatives, reports the Charlotte News & Observer.

The accident is the second involving a Harrier from Cherry Point this year.

Original Report

1345 EST: Rescue crews are responding to the scene of what is believed to be the downing of an AV-8B Harrier near Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC.

Local media reports officials at the Marine base confirmed a military aircraft had gone down at around 12:30 pm local time near the Cherry Branch subdivision, but they would not state what type of aircraft it was. They also had no word on the pilot's condition.

At this point, there's little additional information available. The National Weather Service reports rain and fog in the general area of the accident site.

MCAS Cherry Point is home to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, which flies a variety of Corps fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft types.

Aero-News will have more on this developing story as information becomes available. Stay tuned.

FMI: www.cherrypoint.usmc.mil/