A Navy F-18 fighter jet that crashed into a Virginia Beach neighborhood in April experienced dual engine failure , marking the first time an F-18 has had two unrelated catastrophic engine failures at the same time , according to a report released on the investigation . In the first five seconds of flight , the jet 's right engine stalled from a fuel leak , the investigators said . The pilot tried to compensate with extra thrust from the left engine but it also failed due to an unrelated problem with the afterburner . `` It was not a single failure but an extremely unusual and complex multisystem emergency , '' Rear Adm. Ted Branch said at a press conference Monday . Related : Navy jet experiences `` catastrophic '' malfunction , crashes in Virginia . With a failed right engine and a malfunctioning left engine that was not generating sufficient thrust , the aircraft quickly lost altitude . When the F-18 dropped to 50 feet the crew ejected . One second later the jet crashed into an apartment complex , but no one was killed . The whole ordeal , from takeoff to crash , lasted only 70 seconds . If the right engine alone had failed , it is highly unlikely the aircraft would have crashed , Branch said . `` We have never had this kind of unrelated dual engine mishap in the F-18 , '' he said . `` It 's the first time its ever happened with this aircraft . '' Emergency procedures will be revised to take this rare occurrence into account , he said . Navy : 'Miracle ' nobody died in Virginia jet crash . 'Oh my God ! ' Callers recount Navy jet crash .
The F-18 crashed into a Virginia Beach , Virginia , neighborhood in April . This is the first time two unrelated F-18 engine failures have occurred at the same time . Though the jet hit an apartment complex , no one was killed .