The US Navy reported that the incident occurred at 6:18 p.m. on 28/9 (5:18 a.m. today Hanoi time) during aircraft recovery operations on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in waters off the coast of Virginia.
Two pilots ejected and were rescued. They were brought back to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and are undergoing medical evaluation. Four sailors on board were also injured in the incident. One sailor was transferred to a hospital in Norfolk for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
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An F/A-18F fighter jet landing on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on 6/5. Photo: US Navy |
An F/A-18F fighter jet landing on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on 6/5. Photo: US Navy
The US Navy added that the affected aircraft is a "two-seater aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing Three", but did not specify the aircraft type or provide details of the incident. Carrier Air Wing Three operates two two-seat aircraft models: the F/A-18F multi-role fighter jet and the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft.
The incident happened in the early stage of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower's operational readiness assessment, following the warship's completion of a major overhaul in 7/2025. The ship departed Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on 28/9.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is the second Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, launched in 10/1975 and commissioned in 10/1977. With a displacement of more than 100,000 tons, it is classified as a supercarrier, capable of carrying more than 60 aircraft and a crew of about 5,000 personnel.
The aircraft carrier Eisenhower docked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia, US in 1/2025. Video: US Navy
In 11/2023, an arresting cable on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower experienced a "serious malfunction" and broke when an F/A-18E fighter jet landed. The aircraft slid off the flight deck and rapidly lost altitude, even though the pilot activated maximum afterburner. Maintenance data showed the F/A-18E was only about 5 meters above the sea surface when it began to regain speed and altitude.
The carrier is scheduled to return to the Norfolk shipyard in Virginia in 1/2025 for maintenance, after its deployment for missions in the Middle East during the 2023-2024 period. The US Navy stated that the warship will undergo upgrades to its propulsion equipment, combat systems, and air wing support, as well as improvements to crew living conditions.
In 4/2026, a fire broke out on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which sailors and Norfolk shipyard personnel quickly contained. Three sailors received onsite medical treatment and were able to return to duty shortly after.
By Nguyen Tien (Source: USNI, Reuters)
