The Marines have identified the pilot who was killed in a F/A-18D Hornet that crashed in Southern California.
Marine Maj. Andrew Mettler died after his Hornet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar shortly after taking off. The two-seater Hornet crashed near the I-15 highway east of the Southern California airbase shortly before midnight.
Mettler was part of the East Coast-based Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224, which was participating in Service Level Training Exercise 5-23, the Marine Corps said in a Saturday news release. The VMFA (AW)-224, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd MAW is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., but was operating in Miramar, Calif.
”I am deeply saddened to share the loss of Maj. Andrew ‘Simple Jack’ Mettler, a fellow Marine aviator who was honing his craft as a Hornet pilot and leader in his squadron, the Fighting Bengals. I had the great honor of flying in an F/A-18D with Simple Jack and will always remember his skill piloting the Hornet and his wry smile. It is with great humility that I offer my deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and friends of Maj. Andrew Mettler. You remain at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers,” 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) comander Maj. Gen. Scott Benedict said in the release.
Mettler commissioned on Nov. 30, 2007.
The aging F-/A-18 Hornet line is part of the Marines’ contribution to the Navy carrier air wing structure and is getting replaced across the service with the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
The crash is under investigation.
The following is the Aug. 26, 2023, statement from the 2nd MAW.
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. —
A U.S. Marine died in an F/A-18D Hornet crash during a training flight in the vicinity of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at 11:54 p.m. (PST) Thursday. The Marine was assigned to Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224. The squadron was participating in Service Level Training Exercise 5-23. The name of the deceased Marine is Maj. Andrew Mettler.
“I am deeply saddened to share the loss of Maj. Andrew ‘Simple Jack’ Mettler, a fellow Marine aviator who was honing his craft as a Hornet pilot and leader in his squadron, the Fighting Bengals. I had the great honor of flying in an F/A-18D with Simple Jack and will always remember his skill piloting the Hornet and his wry smile. It is with great humility that I offer my deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and friends of Maj. Andrew Mettler. You remain at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers,” said 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) Commanding General Maj. Gen. Scott Benedict.
Mettler served as an F/A-18 Hornet pilot with VMFA(AW)-224, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd MAW stationed on Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. Mettler, from Georgia, commissioned in the Marine Corps Nov. 30, 2007. Mettler’s decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze stars in lieu of 5th award.
“As 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, we mourn the loss of one of our brothers who was devoted to the Marine Corps mission, and it is our duty to continue forward in a manner that would reflect his devotion. Maj. Mettler’s legacy will remain with every Marine, Sailor and civilian that he served with, and we have the obligation to continue to uphold the values that he stood for. He will be deeply missed within the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and among his brothers and sisters at the Fighting Bengals,” said Benedict.
