At least four shipboard personnel sustained injuries and two naval pilots successfully ejected following an aircraft recovery mishap on Monday aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Atlantic Ocean, military officials reported.
- Rapid Recovery of Aviators Assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3
- Four Sailors Injured During Shipboard Incident
- Ongoing Investigation Into the Carrier Mishap
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What ship was involved in the aircraft mishap?
- When did the incident take place?
- Were the pilots who ejected rescued safely?
- How many people were injured in total?
- Has the Navy identified the aircraft involved?
According to updates from U.S. Fleet Forces Command and official Navy statements, the incident occurred at approximately 6:18 p.m. ET while the Nimitz-class carrier was conducting routine aircraft recovery operations off the coast of Virginia.
Rapid Recovery of Aviators Assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3
During the incident, two aviators attached to Carrier Air Wing 3 ejected from their aircraft into the water. Search-and-rescue teams stationed aboard the carrier rapidly responded and retrieved both aviators.
Medical personnel immediately evaluated both pilots following their retrieval from the water and return to the ship. Officials confirmed that both aviators were safely recovered, though specific details regarding their medical statuses beyond initial evaluations were not immediately released.
Four Sailors Injured During Shipboard Incident
In addition to the two pilots, four additional crew members aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower sustained injuries during the mishap. Medical personnel provided immediate care to all affected sailors.
One of the injured sailors was subsequently transferred via medical evacuation to a Norfolk-area hospital for further treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The remaining three sailors received treatment onboard the vessel.
Ongoing Investigation Into the Carrier Mishap
The U.S. Navy has not yet publicly identified the specific type of aircraft involved in the incident, nor have officials released preliminary findings regarding what caused the mishap during the recovery operation.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, homeported in Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, had recently departed the naval station on the afternoon of September 28 to begin early carrier qualification operations following the completion of a scheduled repair period in July.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ship was involved in the aircraft mishap?
The incident occurred aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.
When did the incident take place?
The mishap happened on Monday evening, September 28, at approximately 6:18 p.m. ET.
Were the pilots who ejected rescued safely?
Yes. Search-and-rescue teams rapidly recovered both pilots attached to Carrier Air Wing 3 from the water and returned them to the carrier for medical evaluation.
How many people were injured in total?
Four shipboard personnel (sailors) sustained injuries during the incident and received medical treatment, with one individual transported to a Norfolk-area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Has the Navy identified the aircraft involved?
As of the initial reports, the U.S. Navy has not publicly identified the specific type of aircraft or released the exact cause of the recovery mishap.
