Pilot ejects safely at sea while on approach to USS Carl Vinson

An F/A-18 Super Hornet from the Strike Fighter Squadron 2 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) flight deck on April 10, 2017. Boeing was cited by the Pentagon for continuing quality, management and other deficiencies first issued more than two years ago, including problems related to production of its flagship F/A-18 and F-15 jets, according to documents and officials.

A pilot with Carrier Air Wing 2 attached to the USS Carl Vinson ejected from an F/A-18E into the ocean as the aircraft was preparing to land on the aircraft carrier, the Navy announced Friday in a news release.

Helicopter crewmembers with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 4, also attached to the Carl Vinson, quickly retrieved the pilot.

Medical personnel on the ship are assessing the pilot, who does not appear to have sustained any apparent injuries, the Navy said in its release.

The pilot was conducting routine flight operations as the ship was transitting the Celebes Sea, the Navy said, adding that the incident is under investigation.

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