An U.S. Navy F/A-18 F Super Hornet has crashed in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday at about 9:30 A.M. EST, Navy official told USNI News this afternoon. The crew onboard the two-person Boeing strike fighter ejected out of the aircraft and were safely recovered by crew aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), the service said.“Initial reports indicate both are conscious and alert and without serious injury,” read a Navy statement. “The crash was not a result of hostile activity.”
The more than $60 million fighter lost power shortly after takeoff from Roosevelt and while the sailors ejected the aircraft safely the plane has been declared a total loss, the service told USNI News.
The crash is the first operational loss of of a Super Hornet since 2013 and the first Navy F-18 fighter lost since Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) began last year, according to press reports.
The Super Hornet was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 211 “Checkmates” (VFA 211) based in Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.