London: A US Marine fighter pilot was killed when his F-18 crashed after taking off from a British air base in eastern England, US and British officials have said.

The pilot was ejected from the single-seat aircraft after it went down yesterday near the Royal Air Force Lakenheath station, said Gunnery Sgt. Donald Bohanner at California's Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, where the F/A-18C Hornet is stationed.No other casualties were reported.