Virginia jet crash: Navy compensates residents of destroyed apartment complex

The Navy began compensating the dozens of people left homeless when a fighter jet crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia last week as early as Monday, according to the Associated Press.

The residents who lost their homes picked up government checks to help them pay for food, clothing and housing over the next two weeks, said the AP.

"We are committed to doing the right thing to address the needs of these families, who through no fault of their own have endured an incredible hardship," said Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, commander of the Navy's Mid-Atlantic region, according to CNN. "We owe it to everyone affected by Friday's accident to help them get their life back together."

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The initial payments were to begin at $2,300 per person, to cover immediate needs, and the amount would increase to include additional family members, according to CNN. Alexander also said that counseling and legal services would be available to the residents.

Dozens of apartments were destroyed when the F/A-18D Hornet crashed into the Mayfair Mews apartment complex on Friday afternoon. The two pilots and some injured residents were treated at hospitals and later released, and no fatalities occurred.

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Reuters reported that claims for property damage and personal injury due to negligence on the part of a Navy employee fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act or the Military Claims Act, under which victims have two years to file a claim. In this case the Navy has expediated the process.

An investigation is underway into the causes of the crash, but officials from the Navy said the jet sustained a "catastrophic mechanical malfunction" during a training flight, according to MSNBC.

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