U.S.

Marine Corps warplane crashes in California, killing pilot

/ CBS/AP

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. --The Marine Corps says one of its fighter jets has crashed in the California desert, killing the pilot.

A statement says the F/A-18C went down around 10:30 p.m. Thursday. CBS affiliate KFMB reports that the plane went down during a training mission in the vicinity of Twentynine Palms, about 140 miles east of Los Angeles.

The sprawling Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center is located at Twentynine Palms.

The pilot has not been identified. He was from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

© 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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