Hornets land safely on carrier after wings bump

[Rockville]

Two Navy pilots safely landed aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt after their jets accidentally touched during flight operations Monday over the Arabian Sea.
A Navy official with knowledge of the incident said the two F/A-18 Hornet pilots, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 87 at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, had been in the air for about 30 minutes en route to Afghanistan when their wingtips made contact. The jets returned to the carrier. Neither pilot was injured, and both have been removed from flight status while the incident is evaluated. The official did not know the extent of the damage to the aircraft.
The Norfolk-based Roosevelt deployed in September.

The Virginian-Pilot
© February 4, 2009