Navy F-18 crashes at Raleigh airport, By STEVE HARTSOE

(EXCERPT) ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

MORRISVILLE, N.C. -- A Navy F-18 fighter jet caught fire on the runway
of the Raleigh-Durham airport during takeoff Friday, but the pilot
ejected, authorities said.

The pilot, whose identity was not immediately released, was in good
condition at a Raleigh hospital, airport spokeswoman Teresa Damiano
said. He was the only one on board; no one on the ground was injured.

Damiano said the plane had stopped to refuel. She said the pilot
described his plane as swerving and bursting into flames as it taxied
toward a takeoff runway. The pilot ejected before the plane left the
ground - about 1,700 feet down the 7,500-foot runway, she said.

The burning plane continued rolling before coming to a stop 500 feet
from the terminal.

News video showed the plane engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke
pouring out. Airport fire crews quickly...

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