U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaitlin Watt/Released
Virginia, August 21 - A U.S. Navy pilot from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, On August 20, 2025, known as the "Rampagers," safely ejected from an F/A-18E Super Hornet during a routine training flight off the Virginia coast, near Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach. The incident occurred at approximately 9:53 a.m. EDT, when the pilot, operating a single-seat fighter jet, encountered an issue that necessitated ejection. The exact cause of the mishap remains under investigation, but the Navy has confirmed that the aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and has not yet been recovered from the seabed. Multiple search and rescue assets, including a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter, were swiftly deployed to the scene. By 11:21 a.m. EDT, the pilot was successfully rescued and transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for medical evaluation. The Navy has not disclosed the pilot’s condition, but the successful recovery underscores the effectiveness of the service’s search and rescue protocols. The F/A-18E Super Hornet, a twin-engine, carrier-capable multirole fighter valued at approximately $67 million, is designed for a range of missions, including air superiority, reconnaissance, and precision strikes.
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The pilot involved in the incident is part of VFA-83, a squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana, which recently returned from a nine-month deployment aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in July 2024. This deployment saw extensive operations in the Red Sea, where the squadron faced challenging conditions, including deterrence missions against Houthi forces. The "Rampagers" are assigned to Carrier Air Wing Three, a unit with a storied history of supporting U.S. naval operations globally. The loss of the F/A-18E marks the sixth F/A-18-related incident for the Navy in the past ten months, raising concerns about the frequency of such mishaps. Notably, the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group has experienced multiple accidents in the same period, including a friendly fire incident in December 2024, where a Super Hornet was shot down by the USS Gettysburg over the Red Sea, and two separate incidents in April and May 2025, where Super Hornets were lost due to towing mishaps and a failed arrestment during landing.
The F/A-18E Super Hornet, developed by Boeing, is a cornerstone of the Navy’s air combat capabilities, known for its versatility and advanced avionics. Its design includes upgraded radar systems, such as the Raytheon AN/APG-73, and the ability to carry advanced weaponry like the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Despite its reliability, demonstrated in operations like Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, the recent string of incidents highlights the inherent risks of high-performance military aviation, particularly during training exercises. The Navy’s investigation into this latest crash will likely focus on mechanical or operational factors, potentially involving efforts to recover parts of the airframe from the ocean floor to determine the cause. Such investigations are critical to improving safety and preventing future losses. The cost of the aircraft, estimated at $67 to $73 million depending on the source, underscores the significant financial impact of these incidents, in addition to the operational toll.
This event adds to a troubling pattern of F/A-18 losses, prompting scrutiny of training procedures, maintenance protocols, and operational demands placed on naval aviators. The Navy’s ability to quickly recover the pilot demonstrates the robustness of its emergency response systems, but the repeated loss of high-value assets like the Super Hornet could lead to broader discussions about fleet management and safety enhancements. As the investigation progresses, the Navy will aim to identify whether human error, equipment failure, or external factors contributed to the crash. For now, the focus remains on ensuring the pilot’s well-being and understanding the circumstances that led to the ejection, while the service continues to rely on the F/A-18E as a critical component of its air wing, balancing its proven capabilities against the challenges of maintaining such a complex platform in demanding operational environments.