F-18 Jet Crash: US Marine Corps Pilot Dies in Ely, Cambridgeshire

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the recent crash of an F-18 jet in Ely, Cambridgeshire, resulting in the death of a US Marine Corps pilot. The conversation touches on the circumstances of the crash, the pilot's service, and broader issues related to military aviation safety.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses condolences for the pilot's death and acknowledges their service.
  • Another participant notes the frequency of accidents in US military aviation, suggesting that such incidents occur roughly five times per month globally across various branches.
  • A participant mentions that Navy and Marine pilots have indicated a significant risk of accidents during deployments, implying that not all incidents receive media coverage.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express sympathy for the pilot and recognize the dangers associated with military aviation. However, there is no consensus on the implications of the accident or the broader context of military aviation safety.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to statistics about military aviation accidents, but these figures are not substantiated within the thread. The scope of the conversation is limited to the specific incident and general observations about military aviation risks.

wolram
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-34593948

Thank you for your service. RIP.

A US Marine Corps pilot has died in an F-18 jet crash, close to an RAF base.

The jet came down on farmland in Redmere, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, with the alarm raised at 10:30 BST.

The Hornet aircraft, which had taken off from RAF Lakenheath but was not connected to the base, crashed four miles from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.

The pilot was the only crew member, police said.
 
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Accidents in US military aviation are not what I would call rare unfortunately. Somewhere in the world there is a "major accident" in Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine aviation roughly five times per month. The Navy/Marine pilots I've known tell me that every time a US carrier deploys there's a good chance an aviator does not come back due to accidents. Many of the accidents don't make the main stream papers.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95521&page=1