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Military

Plane Taking Off From Coronado Navy Base Crashes In Bay

A downed T-45 Goshawk that took off from Naval Air Station North Island is shown after it crashed into San Diego Bay, May 22, 2015.
10News
A downed T-45 Goshawk that took off from Naval Air Station North Island is shown after it crashed into San Diego Bay, May 22, 2015.

A military pilot safely ejected Friday before the training jet he was landing at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado overshot a runway and crashed into San Diego Bay.

The T-45 Goshawk plunged into the harbor about 2 p.m., coming to rest upright and partially submerged in shallow water, according to Naval Air Forces Pacific public affairs.

10News published a photo of the downed aircraft in the bay's shallow waters. Broadcast video showed the red-nosed aircraft in the water with the canopy missing.

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Boaters pulled the pilot out of the bay a short time after the crash.

"It was good to see the parachute — you're just hoping he's OK," Sean Brady, a witness, told NBC7 San Diego.

The pilot, whose name was not released, was taken to a hospital for a precautionary evaluation. By early evening, he had been examined and released, according to the Navy.

At the time of the accident, the pilot was on a routine training mission to prepare for aircraft carrier landing qualifications. The two-seat Boeing/BAE Systems aircraft he was flying is assigned to Training Squadron 9, based in Meridian, Mississippi.

A crane crew was called in to remove the jet from the harbor, officials said.