MARION COUNTY, Fla.,None — WFTV is getting new information Monday morning about a military plane crash in Marion County. A U.S. Marine Corps aircraft based at Camp Lejeune, crashed during a training exercise Sunday night.
The jet went down in the Ocala National Forest just north of Highway 40 around 8:00pm. The type of aircraft that crashed is a Harrier AV8B. The U.S. Navy says the pilot was able to eject from the jet and was found safe. He was transported to a hospital just to be sure he was okay and was treated for some minor injuries.
State Road 19 in Marion County was closed for hours Sunday night as the investigation continued. The area where the jet went down is a very remote area and the Harrier is deep in the Ocala National Forest. Roads in the area have since been reopened and now only a guarded entry to the forest marks the path to the wreckage.
The jet is based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The pilot was part of a training exercise when something clearly went wrong.
One eyewitness said she heard what sounded like a jet experiencing mechanical issues.
"I heard a couple of explosions. I turned around and looked and the next thing I knew the plane was nose diving to the ground. And I saw a ball of fire in side the cockpit. And then I ran into the house to call 911," said Anne Nelson, eyewitness.
The Department of Defense is handling the investigation, but at this point is not releasing any information about the crash.
WFTV
