Shocked American fighter pilots were diverted to a Moray airbase after watching a comrade die when their aircraft crashed into a field.
Six Marine Corps F18 Hornets had been en route from the Middle East to their base in California when one plunged to the ground.
The five “Red Devils” who landed at RAF Lossiemouth a short time later exchanged hugs on the runway as they tried to console one another.
The Hornets were arranged in numerical order at the north end of the Moray base – but the jet emblazoned with the number five was absent.
The fleet of aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 had taken off from RAF Lakenheath yesterday morning.
The crash happened just a few miles away near the Suffolk-Cambridge border.
There were reports the plane encountered problems with refuelling shortly before the crash, but a spokeswoman for the US Marine Corps said she could not confirm this.
Police said the pilot was the only crew member aboard, and although two local fire brigade units were sent to the scene they were stood down within two hours.
The crash happened around 10.30am.
The remaining FA-18s arrived at RAF Lossiemouth around 1.30pm, followed a short time later by a tanker jet and C40 transporter with 20 ground crew aboard.
A US Air Force spokeswoman confirmed the death of the pilot, who had been based at the Miramar Marine Corps air station in San Diego.
She said: “The cause of the crash is still unknown but response efforts are under way and the incident is currently under investigation.
“It is also unknown at this time if the pilot ejected from the single-seat aircraft.
“The jet was transiting from Bahrain to Miramar in a flight of six, when it crashed approximately six miles north-west of the Lakenheath airfield.”
A spokesman for the Cambridgeshire fire service confirmed that “no rescue action was required” when they arrived at the scene.
A witness to the incident said the pilot had performed admirably in avoiding colliding with any houses as the jet fell from the sky.
North-east aviation enthusiast Ian Cardno had set up camp near RAF Lossiemouth yesterday to watch the range of international aircraft taking part in this month’s Joint Warrior exercise.
Mr Cardno, from Fraserburgh, said his initial excitement at spotting the five Hornets turned to sadness when he realised the cause of their unexpected arrival.
He said: “It was a big surprise when I saw them coming in, and I first thought it might have been because of the weather.
“I had been following the Hornets’ progress online and knew that they were not scheduled to stop at RAF Lossiemouth.”
He added: “But when I found out what had happened, and saw the five pilots walking about, I felt really sorry for them.
“They must be gutted to lose a friend like that.”