Military Plane Crashes Near San Diego Naval Base; Navy Pilots Rescued
Two Navy pilots are safe after a military fighter jet crashed into San Diego Bay, California, authorities said Wednesday.
The pilots ejected from the plane around 10:17 a.m., Navy officials told CBS. The plane hit the water around 12 p.m. local time. They were the only people on board, and Navy officials identified the plane as an EA-18G Growler, a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Police described the wreckage as “a large debris field” near Naval Air Station North Island, home to Naval Base Coronado.
The pilots were rescued by a fishing boat from a local boat charter company just one minute after they hit the water, the Coast Guard told CBS News.
“Upon noticing the pilot exiting the aircraft, the Premier crew quickly moved toward them to prevent them from falling into the water,” H&M Landing said in a statement.
“We are extremely relieved and grateful that one of our vessels was able to be in the right place at the right time,” said Frank Orsetti, the company’s general manager.
The pilot was then transferred to a small U.S. Customs and Border Protection air and Marine operations vessel that was on scene at the time of the incident, the Coast Guard said.
The pilot was in stable condition, the Coast Guard said. They were taken to a local hospital.
A San Diego city spokesman said officials were heading to the port with a dive team, but the rescue was called off after officials learned the pilot had been rescued. The city of San Diego said the city’s police department was handling traffic issues along the coast.
