Pilot rescued after fighter jets collide in mid-air off Virginia

[News_Editor]

CHINCOTEAGUE, VIRGINIA (BNO NEWS) -- A pilot was rescued early Friday after two fighter jets were involved in a mid-air collision near an island in the U.S. state of Virginia, air force and coast guard officials said. The second pilot was able to land his plane before being taken to a medical facility.

The accident occurred just before 10:30 p.m. local time on Thursday when two F-16C Falcon fighter jets were involved in a mid-air collision about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southeast of Chincoteague Island, which is located off the coast of Virginia. The aircraft were assigned to the 113th Wing D.C. Air National Guard and carrying out a routine training mission.

The U.S. Coast Guard said its 5th District Command Center was alerted after receiving a notification via an automated Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking distress signal from an ejection seat on board one of the two fighter jets that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean. The alert was received at 10:28 p.m. local time.

District watchstanders dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to assist in the rescue operation, and hoisted the pilot from the water at approximately 12:30 a.m. local time on Friday. He was then flown to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland where he was taken to an offsite medical facility for minor injuries.

The pilot of the second aircraft was able to return to Joint Base Andrews, where he was taken to a medical facility on base and later released. Air Force officials did not provide details about how the fighter jets made contact in mid-air, but said an investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

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