2 Eject From Crashing Navy Plane; Both Safe
Two Navy aviators were rescued from the Pacific Ocean Tuesday after ejecting from their F-14 Tomcat fighter as it crash-landed on the deck of the aircraft carrier Ranger, the Navy said.
Both fliers--a pilot and radar officer--were unhurt, said Doug Sayers, a spokesman for Miramar Naval Air Station, where the two are based with Fighter Squadron 51.
The aircraft, valued at more than $45 million, tumbled into the ocean and was lost, Sayers said.
The crash occurred about 9:30 a.m. during training about 50 miles off the coast of San Diego, Sayers said. Navy officials were investigating the cause.
The malfunction occurred just as the aircraft was landing on the vessel’s deck, Sayers said. A Navy helicopter pulled the aviators from the sea.
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