The Navy has called off its search for the pilot of one of two F/A-18C Hornet jets from the USS Carl Vinson that crashed Friday in the Western Pacific.
The pilot, according to the Navy, "has been presumed deceased." That pilot was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94 out of Naval Air Station Lemoore in Central California.
The Navy won't release the pilot's name until his or her family has been notified.
As Home Post previously reported, the two F/A-18C Hornet jets collided in the western Pacific after taking off from the USS Carl Vinson in the early morning hours of Sept. 12. At the time of the incident, the Vinson was roughly 250 nautical miles west of Wake Island:
The two F/A-18C aircraft, one assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94 and the other assigned to VFA 113, had launched from the flight deck and were in the process of proceeding to their initial stations when they apparently collided approximately seven miles from the ship.
The surviving pilot was immediately rescued after the crash, and has since been released from medical facilities aboard the Vinson.
Rear Adm. Christopher Grady, Commander, Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, said of the collsion:
"This is an exceptionally difficult time for the friends and family of the missing pilot and the Navy community. We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy."
