Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


2 US Fighter Jets Collide Off San Diego Coast; Pilots Safe

by VOA News

   Two Marine fighter jets on a training mission collided Wednesday over
   the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, with one pilot landing nearby and the
   other ejecting safely, military officials said.

   The pilots, each in a single-seat F/A-18 Hornet, were taken to nearby
   medical facilities and were in stable condition, Marine Corps officials
   said.

   The pilot who ejected landed in the ocean and was rescued by the USS
   Carl Vinson. The second pilot landed at the Naval Air Station North
   Island in San Diego.

   The cause of the collision is under investigation.

   The jets belonged to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at the
   Marine Corps' air station at Miramar in San Diego.

   This incident follows the crash of another F/A-18 Hornet in the
   California desert late last month. The pilot in the October 25 crash
   ejected safely near the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in
   Twentynine Palms, located east of Los Angeles.