MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 crashed at 1:30 p.m. (GMT), today, shortly after launching from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) operating in the Arabian Gulf.
The two personnel aboard the strike fighter ejected from the aircraft, survived the crash and were quickly recovered by search and rescue personnel from the ship. The recovered Naval Aviators are being evaluated by medical personnel aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. Initial reports indicate both are conscious and alert, and without serious injury.
The crash was not a result of hostile activity.
"The Navy has informed us just recently that, in the last hour or two, that the F/A-18 Super Hornet that took off on the Teddy Roosevelt, which is deployed from Norfolk into the Fifth AOR to support Operation Inherent Resolve, crashed today after takeoff," Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said. "The pilots, as we understand, were both rescued alive, and the cause of the crash is unknown. But you wouldn't necessarily know it from the discussion here on the floor that there's a war going on and people are risking their lives every day. And we pray that the news about both these pilots being safe is, in fact, accurate."
Strike Fighter Squadron 211 is based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Va. Beach and is assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1. USS Theodore Roosevelt, with its embarked carrier air wing, is currently in the U.S. 5th Fleet supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, conducting strike operations against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.
The Navy is investigating the cause of the crash.
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