Pilot is killed as US F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet explodes in 'massive fireball' and crashes on British farm as it began its journey home after finishing tour of duty in Syria

  • F/A-18 crashed in farmland five miles from US airbase in Redmere, Suffolk
  • The as yet unidentified pilot died after ejecting, landing 'a mile' from the jet
  • Cause of the crash unknown but believed the plane had only just taken off
  • Reports claim jet was one of six returning to US after bombing ISIS in Syria

By Euan McLelland For MailOnline

Published: 05:42 EST, 21 October 2015 | Updated: 13:10 EST, 21 October 2015

A US fighter jet has crashed in a 'massive fireball' shortly after taking off from an RAF base in Suffolk.

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet was flying out of RAF Lakenheath when it came down in farmland in Redmere, near Shippea Hill, five miles north-west of the air base over the Cambridgeshire border.

The as yet unidentified pilot died after ejecting from the plane, police confirmed.

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The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (circled, left) - known as Mazda 43 - was flying out of RAF Lakenheath when it ploughed into farmland in Redmere, near Shippea Hill

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (circled, left) - known as Mazda 43 - was flying out of RAF Lakenheath when it ploughed into farmland in Redmere, near Shippea Hill

Twisted parts of the jet lay littered across the crash site, which is roughly five miles north-west of RAF Lakenheath

Police and fire crews remain at the scene near Ely, after a member of the public raised the alarm at 10.30am this morning. Witnesses described seeing 'a massive fireball' in the sky. American fire engines sent from the base are pictured attending

Police and fire crews remain at the scene near Ely, after a member of the public raised the alarm at 10.30am this morning. Witnesses described seeing 'a massive fireball' in the sky. American fire engines sent from the base are pictured attending

It is said to have encountered issues with refuelling, reportedly failing to successfully refuel with a tanker before crashing. The emergency response was considerable, and remains on the scene still

It is said to have encountered issues with refuelling, reportedly failing to successfully refuel with a tanker before crashing. The emergency response was considerable, and remains on the scene still

Witnesses claim seeing emergency service personnel gathered around a parachute roughly 'a mile-and-a-half' from where the jet came down. 

Police, fire and ambulance crews remain at the scene near Ely, after a member of the public raised the alarm at 10.30am this morning.

The jet was one of six returning to the US via the UK after combat deployment in the Syria, where it had taken part in a bombing campaign against ISIS.

The jet was one of six returning to the US via the UK after combat deployment in the Syria, where it had taken part in a bombing campaign against ISIS. Pictured here is call-sign Mazda 42

The jet was one of six returning to the US via the UK after combat deployment in the Syria, where it had taken part in a bombing campaign against ISIS. Pictured here is call-sign Mazda 42

Also seen at RAF Lakenheath was Mazda 45. The crashed jet was part of the VMFA-232, or Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 - known as the 'Red Devils' - based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California

Also seen at RAF Lakenheath was Mazda 45. The crashed jet was part of the VMFA-232, or Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 - known as the 'Red Devils' - based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California

The US fighter jet crashed shortly after taking off from an RAF base in Suffolk, landing close to the boundary with Cambridgeshire

The US fighter jet crashed shortly after taking off from an RAF base in Suffolk, landing close to the boundary with Cambridgeshire

Local witnesses say debris from the wreckage can be seen spread out across muddy farmland

Local witnesses say debris from the wreckage can be seen spread out across muddy farmland

A police helicopter was called in to help survey the crash site. The aircraft were travelling from Bahrain to the base in Miramar, California, a US air force official has confirmed, before the crash took place

A police helicopter was called in to help survey the crash site. The aircraft were travelling from Bahrain to the base in Miramar, California, a US air force official has confirmed, before the crash took place

It was part of the VMFA-232, or Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 - known as the 'Red Devils' - based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.

The aircraft were travelling from Bahrain to Miramar, a US air force official confirmed.

The remaining five FA-18 Hornet's safely diverted to the RAF Lossiemouth airfield in Scotland, 500 miles away from the crash site.

It is believed that the fighter jet fell from the sky onto farmland owned by the local Sizer family. Fire service personnel are still in attendance 

It is believed that the fighter jet fell from the sky onto farmland owned by the local Sizer family. Fire service personnel are still in attendance 

A rescue worker searches farmland on the Cambridgeshire border after the fighter jet crashed earlier today

A rescue worker searches farmland on the Cambridgeshire border after the fighter jet crashed earlier today

Witnesses claim four jets were flying when they split into two sets of two. Soon after, the rest of the squadron are set to have lost communications with one of the planes, which then fell to the ground

The rest of the flying squadron are said to have lost communications with one of the planes - known by its call-sign Mazda 43 - which then fell to the ground

The rest of the flying squadron are said to have lost communications with one of the planes - known by its call-sign Mazda 43 - which then fell to the ground

Witnesses claim to have seen four jets flying when they split into two sets of two, shortly after 10.30am this morning.

Seconds later, the rest of the squadron are said to have lost communications with one of the planes - known by its call-sign Mazda 43 - which then fell to the ground.

THE F/A-18 : A MULTI-ROLE FIGHTER

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet was first developed in the early 1970s. They are twin-engine, all-weather fighters, equipped with both internal and external weaponry, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground munitions, and 6-barrel 20mm guns in their nose sections.

A pair of General Electric F404 turbofan engines allow ultimate thrust, with the jets capable of reaching top speeds of Mach 1.8 - 1,034 knots or 1,190mph.

The jets are able to be configured at speed and are used for attack missions, fighter escort, enemy air defence suppression, reconnaissance and air control. 

They were introduced on January 7, 1983 and cost between £18million and £37million.

It is said to have encountered issues with refuelling, reportedly failing to successfully refuel with a tanker before crashing.

Patrick Turner, 72, of Redmere, told Cambridge News: 'I was outside in my shed and heard an aircraft coming over. All of a sudden all hell broke loose.

'The noise was terrible - I've never heard that before.

'There was a hell of a bang when it hit the ground. It shook all of the houses. It was so loud you could not hear yourself speak.

'I went outside and saw the plane - it was a huge fireball.

'The pilot bailed out and I saw the parachute coming down.' 

He added: 'The flames were huge.

'There was no way anyone was getting out of that alive. It's certainly not the sort of thing you expect on your doorstep. It was like something from a film.'  

His brother Anthony Turner, 73, a local farmer, said: 'I certainly heard it, it shook the house, my brother was outside at the time.

Reports claim that the jet was one of six returning to the US via the UK after combat deployment in the Middle East (pictured - RAF Lakenheath)

Reports claim that the jet was one of six returning to the US via the UK after combat deployment in the Middle East (pictured - RAF Lakenheath)

A police officers stands guard as investigators probe the crash site for clues as to what caused the military aircraft to come down, leaving its pilot dead

A police officers stands guard as investigators probe the crash site for clues as to what caused the military aircraft to come down, leaving its pilot dead

Witnesses claim seeing emergency service personnel gathered around a parachute roughly 'a mile-and-a-half' from where the jet came down

Witnesses claim seeing emergency service personnel gathered around a parachute roughly 'a mile-and-a-half' from where the jet came down

Residents living close to where the accident happened have described hearing a loud bang, before seeing flames in the air

Residents living close to where the accident happened have described hearing a loud bang, before seeing flames in the air

'It was just behind the buildings, we were lucky it just missed them, we often walk round there.

'The parachute that came over here went over the river so I don't know where that would end up.' 

Karen Miles-Holdaway, 48, who lives nearby, said: 'I was in my garden when I saw the plane going over. It was much lower than they usually fly at.

'I have so much praise for the pilot as I have heard he didn't make it. He took the plane away from the houses which was brilliant.

This graphic - posted online - shows the route an arriving emergency helicopter took in getting to the stricken pilot

This graphic - posted online - shows the route an arriving emergency helicopter took in getting to the stricken pilot

'We are just very grateful to him.' 

Another neighbour told MailOnline: 'I didn't see anything myself but there's a lot going on with police and helicopters.

'All I can see at the minute is blue flashing lights near a parachute. There's no plane in sight but I'm led to believe where the pilot is is around a mile-and-a-half as the crow flies to where it came down.'

Asked if there was an obvious plume of smoke, the man said: 'It's been foggy and overcast this morning, so it's hard to tell.'

Despite the RAF prefix, Lakenheath is a United States Air Force base. 

A US Air Force official at the airbase confirmed that an F/A-18 had crashed.

A Cambridgeshire police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that the aircraft was a military aircraft.

'It had taken off from RAF Lakenheath.

'There is believed to have been one person on board, and there has been one confirmed fatality.' 

The 100th Air Refueling Wing have announced that an internal investigation by the US military is now under way into the crash. 

Three of the remaining five F/A-18 Hornets flew on to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, where they are here seen parked earlier this afternoon

Three of the remaining five F/A-18 Hornets flew on to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, where they are here seen parked earlier this afternoon

A USAF fuel tanker also landed at the air base shortly after 2pm. In addition to the other aircraft, a C40 transporter belonging to USAF touched down with 20 crew members on board

A USAF fuel tanker also landed at the air base shortly after 2pm. In addition to the other aircraft, a C40 transporter belonging to USAF touched down with 20 crew members on board

Pilots are seen conversing with one another at RAF Lossiemouth hours after this morning's tragedy 500 miles away

Pilots are seen conversing with one another at RAF Lossiemouth hours after this morning's tragedy 500 miles away

A spokesman for the US Embassy in London confirmed the pilot had died, adding that his 'thoughts are with those involved'.

A Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman added: 'We were called following reports of an aircraft crash at Redmere.

'We have two crews at the scene at the moment but there is no sign of any firefighting action taking place.' 

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet was designed for aircraft carrier duty and was the first tactical aircraft designed to carry out both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

They entered active duty in January 1983 and have recently been used in conflicts in the Iraq and Afghanistan.

JET WAS PART OF THE MARINE CORPS' MOST DECORATED SQUADRON 

Nicknamed the 'Red Devils', Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 are renowned as one of the oldest and most decorated fighter squadron in the Marine Corps.

They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in California, and fall under the command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The pilots are believed to have been heading back to their base on the US west coast having spent months operating attack missions in the Middle East.

All six jets arrived at RAF Lakenheath on Saturday afternoon, using the call-signs 'Mazda 41' through 'Mazda 46'.

The fighter that crashed today was Mazda 43.  

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