WA Yakima county: Fighter jet made 'popping sounds' before crashing, sparking wildfire near Mt. Rainier

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/military-aircraft-crashes-near-lake-south-of-mt-rainier-sparking-wildfire/281-633a8871-e4f3-4805-9175-c7ed78e5ebac

Fighter jet made 'popping sounds' before crashing, sparking wildfire near Mt. Rainier

Fire crews are currently on scene of a down military aircraft in the area of Rimrock Lake.

Author: Molly Hetherwick, Jim Nelson
Published: 5:05 PM PDT June 13, 2026
Updated: 5:39 AM PDT June 14, 2026

YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. — A military aircraft based out of San Diego crashed near Rimrock Lake Saturday afternoon, prompting evacuations of nearby campgrounds, road closures and a wildland fire response.

Officials with the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, CA reported that an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet experienced a "nonfatal mishap" around 12 p.m. while training near Rimrock Lake. The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation, military officials said.

The pilot safely ejected from the craft before it crashed, according to first responders, and is being treated for minor injuries at a nearby medical facility — but the crash sparked a wildfire in the area.

"A couple of jets had already buzzed over the lake. We heard another one coming but it made popping sounds. We thought it was just air noises from the jet. When we walked down to the lakefront, we could see the smoke," said Tina Liniger, who was watching the planes train lakeside when the crash occurred.

… sidenote: ‘planes train’ unfortunate wording…

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