Associated Press

EL CENTRO, Calif. - A Navy fighter jet crashed during a routine
training mission and the pilot was killed, officials said.

The single seat F/A-18C Hornet went down about 7:48 p.m. Wednesday, 5
miles north of this small desert town east of San Diego, according to a
Navy news release.

The plane was based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in Central California.

The military is investigating the cause of the crash.

Officials were withholding the pilot's name pending notification of
the next of kin.