A US Navy F-18 jet has crashed shortly after take off in a residential area near Virginia Beach, Virginia.
A Navy spokesman told the BBC that the plane went down just before 12:08 (16:08 GMT) and two crew members ejected safely.The plane hit an apartment building, with photos showing black smoke rising from behind houses.
There were no immediate reports of serious casualties and the cause of the crash is not yet known.
Pentagon spokesman George Little used Twitter to say Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was being kept informed: "#SecDef is closely monitoring F-18 crash in Virginia Beach; concerned about potential loss of life and injuries."
The plane was based at the naval air station at Oceana, Virginia where it was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, the Navy said.
One reporter at the scene tweeted that a Virginia Beach Hospital confirmed it was treating five civilians and both pilots for injuries.
Local news station WTKR reports that a significant amount of damage has been done to an apartment building located near the centre of town.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said: "We are taking all possible steps at the state level to provide immediate resources and assistance to those impacted by the crash. Our fervent prayer is that no-one was injured or killed in this accident."
Witnesses have told local media that just before the crash they saw the plane empty its fuel tank.
One witness, Jon Swain, told US news station 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."
A nearby highway, Interstate 264, has been closed in both directions, local officials said.
Source: BBC News
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