Pilot Still Missing After Fighter Jet Crashes In Death Valley

DEATH VALLEY (CBSLA) — A pilot remained missing after a fighter jet crashed in Death Valley Wednesday morning, leaving seven visitors with minor injuries.

According to the official Twitter feed for the U.S. Naval Air Forces, the crash happened around 10 a.m. when the F/A-18E Super Hornet went down near an area often referred to as Star Wars Canyon — not far from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake — on the western edge of Death Valley National Park. The aircraft was on a routine training flight when the crash occurred.

Star Wars Canyon is popular with visitors because fighter jets speed through it. That's how the seven visitors suffered minor injuries.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. The pilot and jet were assigned to Naval Air Station Lemoore.