Bloodied, ejected Marine Corps pilot seen calm and collected after Washington crash destroys aircraft

Bodycam footage shows a Marine F-18 pilot bloodied from facial lacerations after a June crash in Washington state."I'm a little frazzled," Marine Corps Maj.Jackson Simon admitted to a Yakima County Sheriff's deputy wearing a bodycam after the June 13, 2026 crash.

Despite that, Simon appeared unfazed by the wreck.The newly released footage captured the moments after the Marine Corps pilot ejected from his F-18 Hornet before the fighter jet slammed into a mountainside near Rimrock Lake.The crash sent flames and a thick column of black smoke rising above the surrounding trees.Despite blood covering parts of his face, Simon could be seen casually walking toward the deputy with a phone in his hand and appearing strikingly composed after coming down through the trees.DEADLY B-52 CRASH PUTS FOCUS ON ENGINES, CONTROLLABILITY AS INVESTIGATORS HUNT FOR ANSWERSA bloodied Marine Maj.

Jackson Simon casually walks up to a Yakima County Sheriff’s deputy after survivor an ejection before a fiery June 13 F-18 jet crash in Washington state.(Yakima County Sheriff’s Office)Asked by a responder what kind of aircraft had crashed, the pilot began to answer, "That's an F-18," before quickly correcting himself."Well, that was–," he began, before the responder said, "An F-18?" and the pilot confirmed.The pilot told deputies he had been conducting low-level training over the lake when something went wrong."We were doing some circles over the lake," he told the officer.

"I tucked in, and I'm not sure exactly.Honestly, I'm a little frazzled."COAST GUARD HELICOPTER CRASHES DURING ALASKA TRAINING MISSION, INJURING FOUR CREW MEMBERSMarine Maj.

Simon Jackson holds a Yakima County Sheriff’s deputy's cellphone after calling his superiors to flatly tell them 'pilot ejected; pilot safe' and casually, 'hey buddy, Maj.Simon, I just crashed.' (Yakima County Sheriff’s Office bodycam footage)When told by a bystander that "you hit the trees bad, bud," he responded: "I went through the trees."W...