A Navy pilot was rescued after a $67 million fighter jet plunged into ocean waters off the Virginia coast Wednesday morning — marking the sixth pricey plane the military has lost in less than a year.
The pilot, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 83 in Virginia Beach, was conducting a routine training flight around 9:53 a.m. when the F/A-18E Super Hornet went down, according to Naval Air Force Atlantic.
The aviator ejected from the warplane before it crashed into the water and was recovered alive about 90 minutes later following a search and rescue operation.
Officials said the top gun — who has not been identified — was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The pilot’s current condition remains unknown.
The expensive fighter jet has yet to be recovered from the water as the crash remains under investigation.
The incident is the latest in a troubling string of mishaps involving F-18s in the past 10 months.
In April, a $56 million Super Hornet rolled off the USS Harry S. Truman and sank into the Red Sea as the massive carrier performed an evasive maneuver to avoid incoming fire from Houthi rebels.
The naval pilot managed to jump from the aircraft and was not injured in the crash.
A week later, another costly fighter jet crashed into the same body of water when it experienced “arrestment failure” attempting to land on the Truman.
The two pilots ejected from the military plane before it crashed and were treated for minor injuries.
Another Super Hornet was shot down in a friendly fire incident over the Red Sea in December, with both airman safely ejecting.
The mega-million fighter plane costs about $67 million, officials said.
