UPDATE 2: F/A-18F Crash Off Coast of Florida
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS180314-19
Release Date: 3/14/2018 9:05:00 PM
From Naval Air Force Atlantic
NORFOLK (NNS) -- The following story was posted March 15 at 2:45 p.m. EDT.
The F/A-18F crash, which occurred March 14 just east of Naval Air Station Key West, is currently under investigation.
Today, the squadron took the day off from training in order to grieve. The remaining squadrons in Carrier Air Wing EIGHT were briefed on the mishap and then resumed normal training operations. The F/A-18F remains in the water where it crashed and will stay there until a Mishap Investigation Board (MIB) conducts its investigation. The MIB consists of high qualified naval officers with extensive experience in all aspects of aviation. The MIB thoroughly examines previous aircraft maintenance, number of hours flown on the aircraft, physical condition of the aircrew and their activities previous to the accident.
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast has a Navy On-Scene Coordinator (NOSC) who is the Commander, Navy Region Southeast representative who overseas emergency environmental impacts and makes decisions on the best way to remediate or mitigate environmental hazards. These hazards may be caused by circumstances such as aircraft mishaps or hurricanes. The goal is to restore the impact to the pre-existing condition and to coordinate the overall Navy response. This includes close coordination with other Navy entities, state, local and federal stakeholders and possibly outside agency contractors.
The primary next of kin of the two aviators killed in the mishap have been notified and per DoD instruction, names of the deceased will be released 24-hours after notification. A release will be sent out this evening at 10 p.m. EDT for official confirmation of those killed in the crash.
VFA-213 is scheduled to complete their training in Key West on March 21 where they will return to Naval Air Station Oceana.
The following story was posted March 15 at 8:30 a.m. EDT.
An F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed on final approach to Boca Chica Field, Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida at approximately 4:30 p.m. EDT, March 14.
Search and rescue crews were notified shortly after the crash where they recovered both the pilot and weapons systems officer from the water approximately one mile east of the runway. Both were taken by ambulance to Lower Keys Medical Center.
Both aviators have been declared deceased. Per Department of Defense policy, the names of the aviators are being withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification.
The F/A-18F is a dual-seated aircraft assigned to the "Black Lions" of Strike Fighter Squadron Two One Three(VFA-213), based at Naval Air Station Oceana and was conducting a training flight.
The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation.
The following story was posted March 14 at 9 p.m. EDT.
An F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed on final approach to Boca Chica Field, Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida at approximately 4:30 p.m. EDT, March 14.
Search and rescue crews were notified shortly after the crash where they recovered both the pilot and weapons systems officer from the water approximately one mile east of the runway. Both were taken by ambulance to Lower Keys Medical Center.
The F/A-18F is a dual-seated aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VFA-213) based at Naval Air Station Oceana and was conducting a training flight.
The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation.
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