WASHINGTON — Two U.S. Navy aviators safely ejected from an EA-18G Growler during a landing attempt aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off the Virginia coast, while six other sailors were injured in the mishap, the Navy said. The incident occurred during carrier operations and is being investigated as officials assess what went wrong with the aircraft’s arresting system.
What happened during the carrier landing
The aircraft was attempting to land on the carrier when the arresting gear failed. Carrier aircraft normally use an arresting cable system to rapidly slow the aircraft after touchdown. When that system does not work as intended, pilots may have only seconds to react.
The two aviators ejected from the aircraft and were rescued safely, according to the Navy. The jet did not result in fatalities, but the incident injured six additional sailors aboard the carrier.
Six sailors were injured
The Navy said the aviators and other injured sailors were evaluated by medical personnel. Four people, including the two aviators, were flown to medical facilities for further treatment. Another sailor was transported to a hospital in the Norfolk area with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Why carrier landings are demanding
Landing a military aircraft on an aircraft carrier is among the most technically demanding aviation operations. Pilots approach a relatively short moving deck and must align precisely with an arresting cable system.
The aircraft must also operate at a controlled speed and altitude. A missed landing can quickly become an emergency because there is little room beyond the end of the flight deck.
Role of the arresting gear
The arresting system is designed to catch a hook attached to the aircraft and bring the aircraft to a stop over a short distance. The system is a critical part of carrier aviation because the runway available at sea is far shorter than a conventional land runway.
Mechanical or procedural failures can therefore have serious consequences. Investigators will examine the equipment and maintenance history to determine why the system did not function as expected.
Aircraft involved
The aircraft was an EA-18G Growler, an electronic-attack aircraft based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet platform. The Growler is operated by the Navy for electronic warfare missions and supports carrier air wings.
Investigation will examine equipment and operations
Following an aviation mishap, investigators normally examine the aircraft, flight-deck equipment, maintenance records and operational procedures. They may also interview the flight crew and deck personnel.
Investigators can use technical data and recordings to reconstruct the aircraft’s approach and determine whether the arresting system, aircraft equipment or another factor contributed to the incident.
Part of a wider Navy aviation safety picture
The incident comes after several aviation mishaps involving U.S. military aircraft in recent years. Aviation investigators and Navy safety officials routinely review such incidents to identify recurring technical or operational problems.
A single accident does not establish a wider systemic failure. Each mishap must be evaluated using its own evidence and circumstances.
Medical response on the carrier
Aircraft carriers maintain medical capabilities because operations at sea can involve emergencies far from shore. Injured sailors can initially be assessed aboard the ship before being transported to shore-based facilities when necessary.
What happens next
The Navy is expected to continue its investigation and determine whether maintenance, equipment performance, operating procedures or other factors played a role. Any safety recommendations will depend on the findings.
Officials have not indicated that the incident was connected to hostile action. The Navy’s preliminary information described it as a mishap involving the aircraft’s arresting gear.
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Source: Associated Press and U.S. Navy, September 29, 2026.
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