Four Navy Crew Persons Bail Out

It's been a tough day for a Navy flight crew... An E-2C Hawkeye, assigned to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 120 Fleet Replacement Squadron onboard Naval Station Norfolk, crashed in the vicinity of Wallops Island, Aug. 31.

A Navy spokesperson noted that, "“The E-2 crashed at approximately 3:50 p.m. The two pilots and two crew members bailed out of the aircraft safely through the main cabin door. At the time of the crash, the E-2 was conducting a training flight... The pilots and aircrew bailed out of the aircraft using parachutes located in the aircraft. The crew are required to strap on the parachutes when they get aboard the aircraft.”

The aircraft reportedly came down in the middle of a soybean field.

VAW-120 reports to Airborne Command & Control and Logistics Wing commanded by Capt. Michael France.

Initial reports indicate no structures or personnel on the ground were damaged or injured in the mishap.

According to the National Naval Aviation Museum, the E-2C, "provides a range of capabilities that support command and control, notably surface surveillance coordination, air interdiction, offensive and defensive counter air control, close air support coordination, time critical strike coordination, search and rescue airborne coordination and communications relay."

The cause of the mishap is under investigation.

FMI: www.navy.mil