Fighter jet crash: Pilot was returning from training mission

The fighter jet that crashed into a Camarillo field early Friday afternoon, killing the pilot, belonged to a private contractor and was returning from a training mission.

Vance Vasquez, deputy public affairs officer for Naval Base Ventura County, said no U.S. naval personnel or equipment were involved in the crash.

The single-seat Hawker Hunter was based at Point Mugu Naval Air Station and was owned by Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. The contractor flies training missions, simulating threats to Navy ships to test fleet readiness, Vasquez said.

The plane crashed at 12:17 p.m. in a farm field three miles from Point Mugu.

“The pilot is the deceased," said Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Steve Swindle. A fire that ignited during the crash was quickly extinguished.

The county bomb squad was called to the scene to make sure that the ejector seat was safe before emergency personnel examined the aircraft.

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-- Bettina Boxall and Richard Winton 

Photo: Jet fighter crashes near Point Mugu. Credit: KTLA