Military officials have identified a U.S. Navy pilot who was killed after his jet crashed in the Mojave Desert on Friday afternoon.
The man was identified as Lieutenant Richard Bullock, who was killed when his F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed near Trona, in San Bernardino County, around 2:30 p.m. PDT on June 3, according to a statement from the Navy issued Sunday.
He was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, which was based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. The base has 16 operational Strike Fighter squadrons.
Bullock was flying a routine training mission at the time before his aircraft went down in a remote part of the desert.
No civilians were hurt in the crash, officials said.
The Navy and other local authorities have secured the scene while the crash is investigated.
“The Navy mourns this tragic loss alongside the family, friends and shipmates of Lt. Bullock,” the statement from the Navy said.
Newsweek contacted the Navy for further comment.
The Mojave Desert extends more than 124,000 square kilometers across Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. The climate is extremely variable, with frequent temperatures below frozen, as well as scorching hot temperatures. (Newsweek)