USN F/A-18E crashed 31-07-2019

[Starfighter_F-104G]

US Navy confirms a single-seater F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed in Inyo County, California today.
Status of the pilot is unknown.
A Navy search and rescue helicopter from the base at China Lake is in en route. per

[Leeuweng]

Unconfirmed local reports say fire on the hill and possibly 6 (light) injured on the ground. Location seems the Star Wars Canyon. Father Crowley Overlook parking closed.

[Stratofreighter]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... china-lake
and
https://theaviationist.com/2019/07/31/b ... rs-canyon/

https://www.facebook.com/VFA151/posts/2 ... 2107?__xts

Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One (VFA-151 Vigilantes)

46 mins ·
...

Fellow Vigilantes,
There has been a tragedy in our squadron.

Please standby for further information that will be passed using pre approved scripts.

The response to any Naval mishap is critical to the emotional well-being of all involved parties.

Please allow the investigation process to be completed as designed.

As we deal with this mishap together as a Navy family,
it is critical that everyone refrain from sharing information through social media or with friends and family.

Well intentioned social media posts during past mishaps have caused unintended, yet irreparable, harm to the families involved.

Honor your fellow brothers and sisters and their families by honouring the process.

...does sound rather ominous regarding the status of the pilot

[orange]

https://ktla.com/2019/07/31/u-s-navy-je ... -underway/

[Stratofreighter]

Pics
https://kgrifphoto.smugmug.com/
/
https://www.pprune.org/military-aviatio ... st10533551

[Stratofreighter]

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/u-s-nav ... rash-dead/
/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/navy-fight ... 019-08-01/
/
https://twitter.com/flynavy/status/1157012171097690113

The Navy has confirmed the pilot of a F/A-18E Super Hornet that crashed Wednesday died in a routine training exercise.
In accordance with Department of Defense policy,
the identity of the pilot will be withheld until 24 hours following notification of next of kin, the Navy added.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

Makes you wonder what the consequences might be for any spotting opportunities there.

[Melchior Timmers]

Although not officially confirmed, pictures suggest the hornet being:
168471 NG-400 F/A-18E E228 VFA-151