The pilot died after the US Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet crashed at the east side of MCAS Miramar, San Diego, California.
The F/A-18D Hornet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at 11:54 PST, the base said in a statement.
The aircraft was operating out of the Marine air station but was not part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is headquartered out of it, according to the statement.
The crashed plane was attached to the Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron 224, based in Beaufort, South Carolina, and had been in California for a training mission, officials said.
“With a heavy heart, our condolences go to the Marine’s family during this time,” according to a statement Friday by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing,” the statement reads. “An investigation has begun. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
The crash site is “on government property east of the air station and there are no indications of damage to property on the ground,” an earlier base statement said.
The base is about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego.
