Two Navy Aviators Eject During USS Eisenhower Recovery Operations
Two U.S. Navy aviators ejected from their aircraft during recovery operations aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off the coast of Virginia.
Two aviators from Carrier Air Wing 3 ejected from their aircraft during recovery operations aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on Monday, September 28, 2026. The United States Navy reported that the mishap occurred at approximately 6:18 p.m. EDT off the coast of Virginia.
Four sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier were injured during the incident. One sailor was transported to a hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, for non-life-threatening injuries, while the remaining three received treatment on the ship. Search-and-rescue personnel recovered the two aviators and returned them to the vessel for medical evaluation.
The Navy has not specified the cause of the accident or the type of two-seater aircraft involved. The carrier typically operates EA-18G Growlers and F/A-18 Super Hornets.
