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Civilian pilot ejects from plane during takeoff from training exercise at MCAS Cherry Point

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published July 13, 2023 at 10:03 AM EDT
(FILE: U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Matthew Williams)

A civilian pilot ejected from a jet Wednesday afternoon as it was taking off from MCAS Cherry Point.

The Marine Corps says a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, piloted by an employee of Draken International, was taking off around 2:00 p.m. when the accident happened and the pilot was airlifted to the hospital.

Draken International has an office at the Global TransPark in Kinston. The company specializes in military readiness training.

Officials said the single-seat subsonic jet was at the air station for a scheduled training event.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
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