US Navy fighter jet crashes into apartments A US Navy jet fighter crashed into a block of apartments near the coast of Virginia Beach on Friday afternoon. The two pilots of the F/A-18D jet ejected shortly before it hit the low rise apartments and burst into flames, just half a mile from beaches crowded during the Easter holidays. In total, seven people were injured and as many as three are still missing. All the injured, including the two pilots, are expected to survive. Authorities are still combing some 40 apartments. Eyewitness reports cite the pilots apologising for the damage to residents who ran out of the apartments to help them. The plane was spotted dumping fuel shortly before the crash, although it is not known if this was the cause of the crash, or an attempt to avoid a larger fireball. Capt. Mark Weisgerber from the US Fleet Forces Command told reporters: "Shortly after takeoff, initial indications are that that aircraft suffered a catastrophic mechanical malfunction, the specifics of which I don't want to speculate on. However it resulted in the forced ejection of that air crew. He added: "The crew is doing well. They suffered some minor injuries. The latest report is that they're up and about and are both coherent. The crash happened in the Hampton Roads area, which has a large concentration of military bases, including Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world. Naval Air Station Oceana, where the F18 involved in the accident was assigned, is located in Virginia Beach.