it crashed into a block of flats in Virginia and burst into flames.
At least two low-rise buildings in the Virginia Beach area were set
alight and black smoke could be seen billowing from their roofs.
Six people, including both of the pilots, have been taken to hospital
with non-life-threatening injuries.
Fire crews doused the buildings with water and sprayed the jet with
foam to contain any potential spill of fuel.
It is believed F-18 fighter jet got into difficulties shortly after take-off.
Bruce Nedelka, the Virginia Beach emergency services chief, said
witnesses saw fuel being dumped from the aircraft before it went down,
and that fuel was found on buildings and vehicles in the area.
Mr Nedelka said the manoeuvre is likely to have prevented what could
have been a massive fireball.
Eyewitness Pat Kavanagh was in his flat in the complex when he heard a
loud boom. He told the TV station WTKR that when he went outside he
saw a pilot on the ground and a parachute hanging from the building.
He said the pilot, who he believes was still strapped to his seat, had
cuts on his face but was able to speak and even apologised for hitting
the building.
Another witness, Jon Swain, told MSNBC: "There were flames coming out
of its engine at the back, which I just thought was afterburn or
whatever... but the plane got lower and lower. I saw one pilot eject.
"I understand there were two, but I only saw one. And then you know,
probably five seconds later, I was at the building where it hit. It
burst into flames," he said.
He said he saw people running from the building after the impact.
The aircraft and pilots from Strike Fighter Squadron 106 were based at
Naval Air Station Oceana.
Oceana, which is a vast complex with more than seven miles (10km) of
runways, is manned by some 14,600 military personnel and is home to 19
fighter squadrons.
The eastern coastal resort city of Virginia Beach has a large
concentration of military bases, including Naval Station Norfolk, the
world's largest naval base
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