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.
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.
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.
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.
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.