Attack vertical takeoff and landing Corps of the U.S. marine corps AV-8B Harrier II fell on Friday, may 6, in the Atlantic ocean near the coast of North Carolina. It is reported by WWAY TV, citing the press release of the marine Corps.
The incident occurred at about 17:05 local time (00:05 GMT Saturday).
Attack aircraft, took off from the Wilmington international airport, performed a training flight. The pilot, as reports Associated Press referring to the Coast guard, ejected safely after the plane caught fire. The pilot was rescued by the crew of the helicopter H-60 Seahawk, the US Navy and taken to the naval hospital on camp Lejeune. His condition is stable.
The crashed aircraft belonged to the 2nd wing of the marine Corps, stationed in cherry point. The causes of the crash are established. U.S. Marines adopted the Harrier II attack aircraft into service in 1985. In November 2011, the United States acquired all but two went to museums) decommissioned UK aircraft Harrier II GR9/A.
The amount of the transaction amounted to 115 million pounds (about 180 million dollars). The purchased aircraft, the us military intend to use as a source of spare parts for its AV-8B/+.
https://lenta.ru/news/2016/05/07/harrier/
