Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
Public Affairs Office
For Immediate Release
03APR18
(MANAMA, Bahrain) - An AV-8B Harrier pilot is receiving medical care after ejecting during takeoff from from Djibouti Ambouli International Airport, Djibouti, April 3, 2018, just after 4:00 p.m. local time.
Assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 and embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, the aircraft crashed after the pilot ejected.
Doctors said the pilot was in stable condition while being evaluated at Camp Lemonnier's expeditionary medical facility.
There are no reports of injuries to personnel on the ground nor damage to infrastructure at the airport. The airport is open.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
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For further questions, please contact U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs Office
011-973-1785-4562 or navcentpao@me.navy.mil
www.cusnc.navy.mil