Two US warplanes have crashed into the Pacific Ocean while operating at the sea, according to a statement from the US 7th Fleet.
Two F/A-18 Hornet jets that were operating aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson crashed at 5:40 p.m. local time on Thursday in the western Pacific, the navy said on Friday.
The navy said that one pilot was rescued and is currently receiving medical care aboard the aircraft carrier, and a search is under way for the other airman.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. The jets were from Carrier Air Wing 17 and assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 94 and Strike Fighter Squadron 113. They have not been recovered.
According to the navy, the Carl Vinson is “underway in the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.”
