[californiadisasters] 10 Hurt In Jet Explosion Off SD Coast

10 Hurt In Jet Explosion Off SD Coast

By R. Stickney and Michelle Wayland
KNBC-TV Los Angeles

Thursday, Mar 31, 2011 | Updated 7:52 AM PDT

Ten sailors aboard a Navy aircraft carrier were injured when the engine of a fighter jet exploded during a training exercise off the coast of San Diego.

An explosion and fire occurred Wednesday as an F/A-18C Hornet prepared for takeoff from the flight deck of the USS John C. Stennis, according to Cmdr. Pauline Storum.

The injured sailors were working on the flight deck near the jet around 2:50 p.m. according to a U.S. Pacific Fleet news release.

The aircraft was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, the Associated Press reports.

The fire was quickly extinguished but still caused damage. Storum says the Hornet sustained at least a million dollars' worth of damage.

Four sailors were flown to Naval Medical Center San Diego. Six others were treated for burn injuries on board the carrier. Storum says none of the injuries are life threatening. The injured sailors have not been identified.

The pilot was not hurt.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"I am extremely proud of our crew," Stennis Commanding Officer Capt Ronald Reis was quoted in the Pacific Fleet's release. "The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is an inherently dangerous place, but our personnel are well-trained to operate safely in this environment. They responded quickly, professionally and with purpose, extinguishing the aircraft engine fire."

The Bremerton-based Stennis was conducting qualification flights for pilots and crews about 100 miles off the coast of San Diego.

Source: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/10-Hurt-In-Jet-Explosion-Off-San-Diego-Coast--118963704.html?__source=Newsletter-Daily

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