Virginia Beach apartments demolished at site of 2012 Navy jet crash

VIRGINIA BEACH

Fear takes hold of Sandy Hall when a jet flies low over her home. Four years ago, one plummeted into her apartment. She was at work April 6, 2012 when an F/A 18 Hornet crash-landed into Mayfair Mews off Birdneck Road. It became known as the Good Friday Miracle because not only did no one die, but damage was limited to the site of the crash.

On Tuesday, heavy machinery demolished the apartment complex to make way for new condominiums and townhouses.

Birdneck Crossing will be a 55-unit condominium/townhouse development according to the site plan.

The jet crashed shortly after taking off from Oceana Naval Air Station for a training mission. It destroyed about 40 of the 64 apartments, including Hall’s. The two pilots who ejected from the aircraft suffered minor injuries. An investigation determined that a double-engine failure shortly after takeoff caused the crash.

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