Navy suspends search operations for missing Pilot in fighter Jet collision over Pacific

The search operations were called off on Saturday by the US Navy for its pilot who went missing after two FA/18 fighter jets collided on Friday in the western Pacific west of Wake Island.

According to the US 7th Fleet, the Navy suspended the search operations as the pilot is presumed dead.

“This is an exceptionally difficult time for the friends and family of the missing pilot and the Navy community,” said Rear Adm. Christopher Grady, Commander, Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group.

According to the US Navy, the two FA/18s fighter jets collided around seven miles away from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson where they were preparing to land. While one of the two pilots was rescued by helicopter shortly after the mishap, the other one went missing since then.

The rescued pilot has been hospitalized and is getting treatment aboard the USS Carl Vinson. Meanwhile, neither of the two pilots has been identified so far amid pending notification of family.

The Navy officials are currently investigating the possible cause of the accident. But preliminary probe indicates that it was a mid-air collision between the two fighter aircraft that were on a training flight about 300 miles west of Wake Island.