Pilot Rescued After Crash
Military Training Jet Crashes Off California Coast After Pilot Successfully Ejects
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Key Points
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The aircraft departed Naval Air Station Point Mugu and was identified by the call sign Snake4; flight-tracking data showed it circling before it disappeared from radar.
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A rescue swimmer aboard the Navy’s UH-60 helicopter helped recover the pilot; the helicopter later landed at Fresno’s Community Hospital at about 8:20 p.m.
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FAA records listed the Hawker Hunter as 53 years old.
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FlightRadar24 data cited by The Fresno Bee indicated the jet was apparently conducting exercises off the coast with another aircraft, which circled the area after Snake4 disappeared from radar.
A military training jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean about six miles northwest of Morro Bay on September 22 after the pilot reported losing engine thrust. Aero-News reported that a Navy search-and-rescue helicopter pulled the pilot from the water and flew him to a Fresno hospital in good condition with no significant injuries. The MK-58 Hawker Hunter, a 53-year-old British fighter jet operated by contractor ATAC, was substantially damaged in the crash.
Engine Failure Triggers Emergency Ejection
The single-seat Hawker Hunter departed Naval Air Station Point Mugu with the call sign Snake4. KITV reported that flight-tracking data showed the jet circling the area before it vanished from radar. The pilot immediately reported a complete loss of engine thrust and ejected over the water. Responders, including Coast Guard crews, found no wreckage at the scene, only the pilot in the ocean.
Navy Helicopter Rescue Off Central Coast
A Navy UH-60 search-and-rescue helicopter responded quickly to the pilot's distress call. A rescue swimmer aboard the helicopter entered the water and recovered the pilot. 6ABC reported that the helicopter landed at Fresno's Community Hospital at approximately 8:20 p.m. Medical staff evaluated the pilot and confirmed he had sustained no significant injuries despite the crash.
Military Grounds Hawker Hunter Fleet Pending Investigation
Following the crash, the U.S. Navy grounded ATAC's entire fleet of Hawker Hunters while federal authorities investigate. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched a formal inquiry into what caused the engine failure. ABC13 noted that Hawker Hunters are commonly used to train U.S. military pilots and perform other defense support missions. Flight-tracking data suggested the aircraft was conducting training exercises with a second jet when the incident occurred.
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