WASHINGTON – A United States Navy fighter jet crashed off the coast of KeyWest in Florida, killing two crew members.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet was on approach to land at the naval air stationaround 4:30 pm (local time), and crashed into the water about a mile eastof the runway. The pilot and weapons system officer ejected and wererecovered, but US Naval Air Forces reported late Wednesday night that bothhad died.
Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Thecause of the crash is also under investigation. The aircraft crew is basedout of Naval Air Station Oceana, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The SuperHornet is a twin-engine fighter jet that is larger than the single-seatF/A-18 Hornet.
The Navy said in a statement the pilot and weapons systems officer wererecovered from the water and declared dead after the two-seater jet crashedon its final approach to Naval Air Station Key West. The incident is underinvestigation, it said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement posted on Twitter earlyThursday: “Please join me with your thoughts and prayers for both aviators,their families and our incredible @USNavy.” – Agencies