Last week, we reported that a AV-8B was badly damaged during takeoff from USS Kearsarge on Mar. 8. A spokesman from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command has provided more details on the incident.
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By Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of America MC1 Gretchen Albrecht/U.S. Navy (USS Wasp conducts flight operations.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The incident happened at around 1300hrs local time and the jet was assigned to a mission to support Operation Inherent Resolve.
The engine caught fire while the pilot was applying takeoff power. The pilot was able to safely exit the aircraft with assistance from firefighters.