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Two US Navy F-18s crash in the Atlantic off North Carolina’s Outer Banks Two US Navy F-18s crash in the Atlantic off North Carolina’s Outer Banks
(35 minutes later)
Two of the US Navy’s F/A-18 fighter jets have crashed off the coast of North Carolina on Thursday, the US Coast Guard confirmed. Their crews have been recovered and taken to a hospital. Two of the US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets have crashed off the coast of North Carolina on Thursday, the US Coast Guard confirmed. Their crews have been recovered and taken to a hospital.
Four people have been recovered and taken to the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, the Virginian-Pilot reported citing Coast Guard Petty Officer Fagal Nifin.Four people have been recovered and taken to the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, the Virginian-Pilot reported citing Coast Guard Petty Officer Fagal Nifin.
Nifin said the extent of the crew members’ injuries is “unknown.” One of the crew had a leg injury, reported WCTI.Nifin said the extent of the crew members’ injuries is “unknown.” One of the crew had a leg injury, reported WCTI.
Search and rescue teams were deployed to the Oregon Inlet area, 25 miles off the North Carolina shore, after reports of two planes colliding around 10:30 ET, according to Norfolk’s WBEC.Search and rescue teams were deployed to the Oregon Inlet area, 25 miles off the North Carolina shore, after reports of two planes colliding around 10:30 ET, according to Norfolk’s WBEC.
Coast Guard officials in Elizabeth City told WCTI that the planes involved were from the Naval Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A fishing vessel reportedly assisted with the rescue.Coast Guard officials in Elizabeth City told WCTI that the planes involved were from the Naval Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A fishing vessel reportedly assisted with the rescue.
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a fighter/attack aircraft in service with the US Navy and the Marine Corps. Given that four crew members were recovered from the ocean, the planes involved look to be the two-seater F/A-18B models. According to the US Navy, two F/A-18F Super Hornets were involved in an “in-flight mishap” at approximately 10:40 ET, during a routine training mission off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
NAS Oceana is home to seventeen squadrons of F/A-18s, but only the Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106, the “Gladiators”) is listed as flying the F/A-18D two-seater model, crewed by a pilot and the Weapons Systems Officer (WSO). The planes belong to the to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211, also known as the “Fighting Checkmates,” based out of NAS Oceana, the Navy said.
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet is an upgraded version of the F-18 Hornet fighter/attack aircraft, in service with the US Navy and the Marine Corps.