Virginia Beach Mayor William Sessoms’ office released the following statement in response to a crashed Navy F-18 jet there:
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – As rescue workers fight to secure the site where a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet crashed just after noon Friday, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms asked people to keep the pilots, their families, first responders, any potential victims and everyone on the ground in their thoughts and prayers. The Mayor said after news of the crash, “Right now we need to let the first responders do their jobs, so that we can find out more information about what happened, and where we need to go from here.”
Mayor Sessoms also asks that people stay away from the area and let emergency crews do their jobs.
“I’m so proud of how quickly and effectively Virginia Beach’s police, fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene of this horrific crash,” said Mayor Sessoms at his bank office just five blocks from the crash. “Their dedication to their jobs, to saving lives, and to public safety is commendable, and we are lucky to have such heroes working for this fine city every day.”
Mayor Sessoms said the Number 1 priority for rescue workers is to make sure it’s safe to get into the damaged buildings and assess what the crash’s aftermath holds.
The Mayor has been in contact with Gov. Bob McDonnell, Congressman Scott Rigell, and the leadership at Naval Air Station Oceana, to stay on top of the situation, and to assist where he can as the clean-up efforts continue.
