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YAKIMA COUNTY, Washington – A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed into a mountainous area near Rimrock Lake in Yakima County around 12:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 13, 2026, igniting a wildfire in the surrounding forest. The jet, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, went down approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle during what the Marine Corps described as a routine training exercise. The pilot ejected before impact and survived the incident, which military officials classified as a non-fatal aviation mishap. Local authorities said the pilot sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Emergency crews launched immediate fire suppression operations in the rugged terrain, where the crash triggered fast-moving flames. The Naches Fire Department, supported by crews from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, deployed helicopters to conduct aerial water drops and sent ground-based engine teams to work on containment lines. Officials ordered precautionary evacuations for nearby campers and residents as smoke and fire activity increased in the area. The size of the wildfire has not yet been confirmed, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation by military authorities, who are coordinating with local emergency management to assess the environmental impact of both the wreckage and the fire.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.