VIRGINIA — A mishap during aircraft recovery operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) occurred at approximately 6:18 p.m. EDT (10:18 p.m. UTC) on September 28 off the coast of Virginia, the U.S. Navy said on September 29.
Two naval aviators assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) ejected from their aircraft and were recovered by search-and-rescue personnel, according to the Navy. Both were returned to the ship and were being evaluated by medical personnel.
Four shipboard personnel were also injured and were receiving medical care, the Navy said. One sailor was being transported to a Norfolk-area hospital for treatment of injuries the Navy described as non-life-threatening.
U.S. Fleet Forces Command stated on September 29 that the cause of the mishap was under investigation. The Navy did not identify the aircraft type, say what happened to the aircraft, name the injured personnel, or give a precise position.
