CALIFORNIA, US — A pilot has been rescued after a military training jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the California coast following an apparent engine problem.
The MK-58 Hawker Hunter went down Tuesday evening after taking off from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, with the pilot the only person aboard.
The pilot was rescued from the water by a UH-60 search-and-rescue helicopter and taken to a hospital in Fresno for further evaluation.
Pilot Reported Engine Failure Before Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the pilot reported an engine problem before the aircraft crashed.
Audio captured by LiveATC.net recorded the pilot issuing a distress call.
“Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! I have lost thrust in my engine.”
Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft flew northwest from Point Mugu before making several circles near the coast.
It disappeared from radar at approximately 6:49 pm near Morro Bay, according to Flightradar24.
Search-and-Rescue Helicopter Responds
A Naval Air Station Lemoore UH-60 helicopter was dispatched following the crash and located the pilot in the water, according to reports citing the US Coast Guard.
The pilot, whose identity has not been released, was transported to Community Hospital in Fresno.
John Rupp, ATAC’s director of Global Military Sales, told KMPH that the pilot was doing well and was undergoing medical tests.
Jet Operated by Military Training Contractor
The aircraft was operated by Air Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a US military contractor that provides training support to military crews.
According to company information, ATAC supports training for personnel from the US Navy, US Air Force, and US Marine Corps.
The company operates a fleet of more than 90 aircraft and provides contracted air-support capabilities to the US Department of Defense.
Rupp said the flight involved training for the US Navy and Marine Corps but did not provide details about the specific exercise.
Hawker Hunter Substantially Damaged
The aircraft was substantially damaged in the crash, according to a preliminary report cited by KCRA.
It remained unclear whether the aircraft would be recovered from the ocean, how deep it was located or how much a recovery operation would cost.
The investigation is expected to examine the reported engine failure and the circumstances leading to the crash.
1973-Built Fighter Used for Training
The MK-58 Hawker Hunter is a single-seat fighter aircraft based on the British Hawker Hunter, which was originally developed in the 1950s for the UK’s Royal Air Force.
The aircraft involved in the crash was built in 1973 and is now used in military training operations.
The FAA and other relevant authorities are expected to investigate the incident and determine what caused the aircraft to lose thrust before crashing into the Pacific.
