Hawkeye Down

[DWCAce 19]

E-2C Crashes

 

A US Navy aircraft with four crew members on board has crashed into the Arabian Sea, the US Fifth Fleet said.

 

It said in a statement that the E-2C Hawkeye jet experienced mechanical malfunctions, forcing the crew to perform a controlled bail-out.

 

Three of the four crew were later recovered and a search is now under way for the fourth crew member.

 

An investigation has been launched into the incident. The crew was stationed on the USS Dwight D Eisenhower.

 

The aircraft had crashed into the sea at about 1400 local time (1000 GMT) on Wednesday, the statement said.

 

It said the plane "was returning from conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan when the problems had occurred.

 

The identities of the crew are being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

[MaverickMike 10]

Hope they find the 4th crew member ok.

[+Dave 2,322]

Got my fingers crossed for the 4th guy.

[MigBuster 2,884]

lets hope he's okay

Edited March 31, 2010 by MigBuster

[Nesher 628]

hope the last guy will be found soon!

[serverandenforcer 33]

They'll find him.

[JediMaster 451]

It fortunately sounds like it wasn't a TO/landing incident but rather an "everyone out because we can't land/make it back" incident, which implies better conditions for survival.

[shotdown 8]

It said in a statement that the E-2C Hawkeye jet

 

E2C Hawkeye Jet?

[+Typhoid 231]

got some back-channel info.

 

coming back on a mission they had an oil leak in one engine and shut it down. But they couldn't feather the engine. That would put them in a difficult control situation with no divert. Hence the controlled bailout.

 

Odd they would only have 4 on the mission.

 

I have not heard of the 4th being found yet. My prayers are with him but this long looks grim.

[DWCAce 19]

Over a the F-14 Association it was posted that the fleet has called off the search, and has declared the missing as 'deceased'.

[+Typhoid 231]

[+Dave 2,322]

[Caesar 305]