A Marine Corps pilot is being treated for injuries after a takeoff gone wrong from Djibouti Ambouli International Airport on Tuesday, officials said.
The pilot, flying an AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162, ejected shortly after takeoff around 4 p.m. local time, according to information provided by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. It's not clear what prompted the pilot's ejection; the aircraft ultimately crashed.
According to NAVCENT, the pilot was taken to an expeditionary medical facility at Camp Lemonnier and found to be in stable condition. The Harrier had been embarked aboard the deployed amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima, part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
"There are no reports of injuries to personnel on the ground nor damage to infrastructure at the airport. The airport is open," officials said.
The mishap is under investigation.
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
