UPDATE: Navy Officials confirmed just after 8 p.m. MDT Wednesday that both aviators involved in Wednesday’s crash have died.
“Their families are in our prayers,” Fly Navy tweeted.
The identities of the aviators have not been released, pending notification of their families.
Previous story continues below:
KEY WEST, Fla. – Two people have been hospitalized after a Navy jet went down off the coast of the Florida Keys during a mishap Wednesday, according to officials.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet was part of Strike Fighter Squadron 213, the “Blacklions,” based out of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, according to WTKR.
The crash happened at 4:30 p.m. in shallow waters after the aircraft caught fire and went down one mile off the runway from the naval station in Key West. The pilot and a weapons system officer managed to eject and deploy their parachutes, according to WPLG.
According to a Navy official, both crew members were rescued and taken to the Lower Keys Medical Center.
Their medical condition wasn’t known as of Wednesday evening.
