F-18 pilot who died in crash on Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border near RAF Lakenheath was US Marine Major Taj Sareen

One of the F-18 aircraft at Lakenheath, pictured on Sunday. Credit: Mark Rourke/Pixelsnipers (Image: Archant)

The pilot of 11 years experience in the Marine Corps died after his US Navy F-18 fighter jet crashed into a field in Redmere, near Shippea Hill, at around 10.30am yesterday (October 21).

He had just taken off from the US Air Force base at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk. He was one of six F-18s from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, who were heading back to their base in California, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

The five other pilots safely diverted to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. They had been travelling back to the US from operations in Bahrain, via RAF Lakenheath.

Witnesses to the crash described a fireball after the plane crashed into the field in the Fens, with the pilot seen ejecting and landing just under a mile away.

Emergency services at the scene of a plane crash at Shippea Hill. The police helicopter flying over the scene. (Image: Archant)

US media reported that Major Sareen, who was identified by his sister, lived in San Diego and leaves behind his young daughter.

ABC 7 news photographer Chris Jewett, who knew Major Sareen, said the pilot wanted to make a difference.

“He had this confidence and infectious smile. When he came in the room everyone wanted to talk to him whether he was wearing his dress blues or not,” Jewett said. “It just seemed like something he was called to do, something meaningful.”

One eyewitness said the plane seem to deliberate avoid nearby houses before it crashed.

The pilot’s friend, San Diego reporter Preston Phillips, said: “That’s Taj in a heartbeat. I mean, he would do that to save people,” ABC 7 reported.

Cambridgeshire Police confirmed this morning that a cordon remains in place at the crash site.