USMC Harrier Crashes Near Okinawa; Pilot Safely Ejects, Rescued By Air Force

September 22, 2016 10:16 AM
An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), at sea, Aug. 27, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.
An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), at sea, Aug. 27, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

A Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier crashed about 100 nautical miles off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, today, and the pilot was rescued after safely ejecting from the plane.

The crash took place around 2:00 p.m. local time. The Air Force’s 33rd Rescue Squadron, 18th Wing, stationed at Kadena Airbase, rescued the Marine.

The Harrier pilot was assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa.

The Marine Corps is investigating the crash.

Megan Eckstein

Megan Eckstein

Megan Eckstein is the former deputy editor for USNI News.

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