Seven people who were visiting a scenic overlook at the park were injured when the jet went down Wednesday morning, according to The Associated Press.
Update 3:45 p.m. EDT Aug. 2: Naval officials identified the pilot who was killed in the crash as Lt. Charles Z. Walker, 33.
Officials said Walker was piloting an F/A-18E Super Hornet jet Wednesday morning when he crashed about 40 miles north of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The jet had been assigned to the "Vigilantes" of Strike Fighter Squadron 151, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California, officials said.
The pilot of the F/A-18E which crashed approx. 40 miles north of @NAWS_CL 31JUL has been identified. The Super Hornet, assigned to the “Vigilantes” of VFA-151 based at NAS Lemoore was flown by LT Charles Z. Walker, 33. pic.twitter.com/knkrgCznRs
— flynavy (@flynavy) August 2, 2019
"Lt. Walker was an incredible naval aviator, husband and son. He was an integral member of the Vigilante family and his absence will be keenly felt on the flight line," Capt. James Bates, commander of Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, said Friday in a statement.
"Our aviators understand the risk associated with this profession and they knowingly accept it in service to our nation. The untimely loss of a fellow aviator and shipmate pains us all. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.”
Update 4 p.m. EDT Aug. 1: Naval officials confirmed Thursday that the pilot, whose identity has not been released, died in Wednesday's crash.
"The Navy mourns the loss of one of our own and our thoughts go out to the family and friends affected by this tragedy," officials said in a statement.
Update 3:20 p.m. EDT Aug. 1: Naval officials had no updates Thursday on the search for the pilot of the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet jet that crashed Wednesday morning, according to Stars and Stripes.
Officials told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that they planned to search through the night for the pilot.
"We're looking for an aviator out there, hoping for the best," an unidentified official told the newspaper.
Original report: A Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet jet crashed Wednesday in the California desert near the region nicknamed "Star Wars Canyon."
The plane went down during a routine training mission north of the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake, a remote expanse of the Mojave Desert, said Lt. Cmdr. Lydia Bock, spokeswoman for Naval Air Station Lemoore.
According to KGTV, seven people on the ground received minor injuries from the crash. It's unclear what caused the injuries.
“The status of the pilot is unknown at this time,” Bock said about four hours after the crash.
The aircraft from VFA-151 was on a routine training flight when the mishap occurred. Search and rescue units from @NAWS_CL and NAS Lemoore are on scene. The cause of the mishap is under investigation.
— flynavy (@flynavy) July 31, 2019
Star Wars Canyon, which is also known as Rainbow Canyon, is a popular location for photographers who typically shoot photos of aircraft passing through the colorful canyon. The nickname is the result of the similarity to the fictional Tatooine in "Star Wars."
The jet was from strike fighter squadron VFA-151 stationed at Lemoore. The squadron is part of an air group attached to the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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