Hornet Crashes off South Carolina; Pilot Rescued
Story Number: NNS040325-01
Release Date: 3/25/2004 1:42:00 PM
From Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet aircraft on a routine training mission crashed at about 12:30 p.m. EST March 24 off the coast of South Carolina.
The pilot was rescued uninjured and taken to a hospital at Hunter Army Air Field near Savannah, Ga., for observation.
The aicraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 82 based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. Known as the "Marauders," the squadron returned Feb. 25 from a six-month deployment as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 aboard the Norfolk, Va.-based aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
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