2 F/A-18Es collide; 1 crashes - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

2 F/A-18Es collide; 1 crashes

Two F/A-18E Super Hornets collided in mid-air Monday night, sending one crashing to the Nevada desert, Navy officials said.

One pilot ejected safely before his aircraft crashed near Naval Air Station Fallon and a second pilot landed the single-seat jet safely at Fallon, according to a press release from Naval Air Forces in San Diego.

The collision occurred about 10 p.m. while the planes were conducting a nighttime training exercise from NAS Fallon, the Navy’s primary fighter training facility.

A helicopter search-and-rescue team found the downed pilot about 11:20 p.m. about three-quarters of a mile from the crash site, Upham said.

Both planes were attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 137, which is based at NAS Lemoore, Calif. The squadron was completing a three-week training program at NAS Fallon, said Zip Upham, a Navy spokesman at NAS Fallon.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, officials said.

The plane that landed safely sustained some damage, but Navy officials did not describe the damage.

The pilot who ejected suffered minor injuries and mild hypothermia, Upham said. The pilot was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released on Tuesday, the Navy statement said.