Two fighter jets embarked on the US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) have crashed in the far western Pacific Ocean following a mid-air collision, with one of the two pilots safely ejected and rescued. The other is still missing.
The F/A-18 Hornets, which belonged to the navy’s Carrier Air Wing 17, were assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94) and Strike Fighter Squadron 113 (VFA-113).
The cause of the crash is unknown and both jets are yet to be recovered, the US Navy said.
The US Navy said in a statement: "[The] search for the second pilot includes guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101), and helicopters assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 15 (HSC 15) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 (HSM 73)."
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By GlobalDataThe USS Sperett and USS Dewey have also been deployed in the search efforts.
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The USS Carl Vinson strike group team was on its way for a nine-and-a-half-month deployment to relieve the USS George HW Bush, which had been taking part in operations against ISIS in Iraq off the Persian Gulf.
Designed to be operated as a fighter in roles such as engaging enemy aircraft as well as an attack aircraft, the twin-engine, single-seat F/A-18Cs have been deployed since the late 1980s.
Image: The US Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet. Photo: courtesy of US Navy.
