Four injured during Eisenhower carrier qualifications, DoD says

Carrier commonly deploys F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was conducting carrier qualifications, or pilot skills training, off the Virginia coast on Monday when four Navy personnel were injured during an aircraft landing attempt, the Department of Defense said in a press release.

During the landing, two aviators ejected from their two-seater aircraft and four shipboard sailors were hurt, the Navy said in a statement.

“Four shipboard personnel were also injured during the mishap and are receiving medical care,” the Navy statement reads.

The aviators who ejected were recovered and underwent medical evaluations, the Navy said. One of the injured shipboard sailors was transported to a hospital in the Norfolk, Virginia area with non-life-threatening injuries. The circumstances surrounding the injuries to the four shipboard sailors have not been clarified, according to the Navy.

The incident occurred at about 6:18 p.m. EDT.

The Navy did not disclose what type of aircraft was being landed on the carrier. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower commonly carries F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets and EA-18G Growler electronic attack jets, both of which can carry two crew members.

The Eisenhower is off the coast of Virginia conducting carrier qualifications, or skills training for pilots, the Defense Department said.