US jet crashes in air show

Moments after this photo was taken the Phantom on the right crashed

A US Navy jet has crashed during an air show in California, killing its two crew members.

The low-flying QF-4 Phantom II fighter jet burst into flames when it hit the ground at 1220 (1920GMT) on Saturday in an area bordering the Point Mugu Naval Air Weapons station, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of Los Angeles, where the show was held.

As [the jet] continued to make the turn, you heard 'pop, pop' as both engines probably let go

Witness Craig Cooper

"Apparently it was completing the air show and coming into the break at Point Mugu and turning out over some private land... and while making a turn it crashed," base spokesman Vance Vasquez said.

The three-day Point Mugu Air Show, which began Friday, was cancelled, he added.

The dead crew members were identified as Navy Commander Michael Norman, 39, who piloted the downed aircraft, and Marines Captain Andrew Muhs, 31, a radar intercept officer.

Quick flash

Eyewitnesses said one of the crew members ejected from the jet just before crashing.

The jet was performing with three other military aircraft when it crashed.

One crew member is seen in front of two smokestacks after ejecting from the aircraft

An eyewitness, Jim Hardie, told the Associated Press news agency that the plane was banking right when a sudden burst of flame came from the engine area.

"We saw a real, quick flash in the middle of the toss of flames," Mr Hardie said.

"As it continued to make the turn, you heard 'pop, pop' as both engines probably let go," said another witness, Craig Cooper.

Mr Cooper said he saw one of the crew members eject sideways from the plane.

But "the chute was probably not open before he hit the ground," he said.

There were no known injuries on the ground.