Both Crews Survive Incident, Transported To A Hospital For Evaluation

Two F/A-18F Super Hornets assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 flying off the coast of Cape Hatteras were involved in an in-flight mishap at approximately 10:40 a.m. local time Thursday. The flight was part of a routine training mission.

According to a Navy statement, all aircrew have been recovered and were transported to medical facilities for evaluation.

The F/A-18F is a two-seat aircraft. VFA-211 is based at Naval Air Station Oceana.

A safety investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the accident.

According to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard, the incident occurred  25 miles east of Oregon Inlet, North Carolina.

Coast Guard 5th District Command Center watchstanders were notified at approximately 10:30 a.m. that two Navy jets suffered an in-air mishap and four people were in the water. The crew of the 48-foot yacht Pammy rescued two of the survivors, and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, hoisted the other two survivors from the water.

A 47-foot Motor Life Boat (MLB) crew from Station Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, took aboard the two survivors rescued by the Pammy crew. A second helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City then hoisted the two survivors from the MLB. All four survivors were taken to Norfolk Sentara General hospital.

(Images provided by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard)

FMI: www.navy.mil