US jet crashes into apartments and bursts into flames

The tail section of the F-18 jet Credit: APTN

A US Navy jet has crashed into a block of flats in Virginia Beach sending a fireball into the sky.

Seven people, not including the pilots have been injured, none of them seriously. Three residents of the Mayfair Mews complex for the elderly remain unaccounted for.

Five buildings were badly damaged by fire and the tail section of the jet landed in the courtyard of the complex.

The U.S. Navy have said that the jet "suffered a catastrophic mechanical malfunction" during a training flight.

Twitter user Colin Mackay has shared his view of the aftermath of a US fighter jet crash.

Colin Mackay tweeted: "Jet plane just crashed across the road from us!" Credit: Twitter / @colinmackayBMX
Colin Mackay tweeted: "Why do these things practice all day above our house?" Credit: Twitter / @colinmackayBMX

Volunteer rescuer Pat Kavanaugh told CNN he found one of the pilots in the wreckage, still strapped to his ejection seat with a parachute.

Kavanaugh and neighbours picked up the seat and carried the pilot away from the flames.

Kavanaugh said the pilot told him:

The plane was part of a training squadron at Naval Air Station Oceana for Navy and Marine aviators in Virginia Beach.

Six people suffered non-life threatening injuries.