Two U.S. Navy pilots died after training in an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet that crashed into the ocean near Key West, Fla., Wednesday.
Both the Navy pilot and the weapons systems officer ejected from the jet before it crashed but after it reportedly caught fire mid-flight. The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. as the two were returning to Boca Chica Field at Naval Air Station Key West, the Navy said in a statement.
“The F/A-18F is a dual-seated aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VFA-213) based at Naval Air Station Oceana and was conducting a training flight,” the statement said.
Naval Air Station Key West emergency services are on the scene of an F/A 18 Super Hornet crash that occurred about 4:30 p.m. off of Boca Chica Field. See the attached release from Naval Air Force Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/v3lvqZEbtd
— NAS Key West (@NASKeyWest) March 14, 2018
Holy crap, just saw a nAvy jet crash and explode @NASKeyWest Praying he ejected pic.twitter.com/puPmy2zkRF
— Barbie Wilson (@barbiedoll0087) March 14, 2018
The two, whose names have not been released, were found and immediately taken to a hospital nearby, where they were pronounced dead.
The crash is currently being investigated.
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