Two Navy pilots eject during carrier landing attempt on Eisenhower
Two pilots ejected during USS Eisenhower landing; four sailors injured.
Event / Disaster
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Aircraft Landing Incident
Two U.S. Navy aviators ejected during a landing attempt on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off Virginia on September 28, 2026, injuring four sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Both aviators were safely recovered and one sailor was medically evacuated for non-life-threatening injuries. The cause was under investigation.
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2026-09-30 to 2026-11-01 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 30 Sept, 03:17 UTC
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What happened
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducting carrier qualifications in Atlantic
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that entered service in 1977, was conducting carrier qualifications in the Atlantic at the time of the mishap. The ship completed sea trials in April as part of its planned incremental availability and recently returned from a nine-month deployment in July 2024.
Two Navy aviators eject during landing attempt on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
Two naval aviators assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 ejected from their two-seater aircraft while attempting to land on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off the coast of Virginia on Monday at 6:18 p.m. The cause of the mishap was under investigation. Search and rescue personnel successfully recovered both aviators and returned them to the ship, where they received medical evaluation.
Four sailors injured during aircraft mishap on USS Eisenhower
Four shipboard personnel aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower were injured during the aircraft landing mishap. One sailor sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was medically evacuated to a Norfolk-area hospital for further treatment. The other three sailors received medical attention on the ship.
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