Two U.S. Navy aviators ejected safely while attempting to land on the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off the coast of Virginia on Monday, in an incident that also resulted in injuries to four other sailors aboard the vessel.
The aviators, assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3, were forced to eject after a mishap occurred during aircraft recovery operations, according to a brief Navy statement. Search and rescue teams promptly recovered both personnel, who were returned to the carrier and subsequently evaluated by medical personnel. Among the four sailors receiving medical treatment, one was transported to a hospital in the Norfolk, Virginia, area with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The Navy has not disclosed the specific type of two-seat aircraft involved or details regarding the cause of the incident. Navy carrier air wings typically operate two-seat models such as the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, along with the T-45 Goshawk training jet.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier commissioned in 1977, recently completed an extensive maintenance and modernization period at a shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. Following the overhaul, the carrier conducted sea trials in April and has since been engaged in post-maintenance operational checks. Observers noted the ship departing Naval Station Norfolk on Monday afternoon.
This event adds to a series of recent mishaps involving U.S. Navy aircraft, including a midair collision between two jets during an air show in Idaho in May and a crash involving a fighter jet and a helicopter in the South China Sea in October. Pentagon data released last year highlighted an increase in aviation mishaps across the U.S. military in 2024.
The Eisenhower has not been directly involved in the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran, which entered its seventh month. However, the extended operational tempo within the Navy has raised concerns regarding crew fatigue and morale. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which has been deployed continuously in support of the conflict, recently returned from a deployment marked by reports of stress, mental health challenges, and shortages of essential supplies such as food and hygiene items.
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Sara Jacobs of California, who visited the Lincoln and spoke with service members, cited significant hardships endured by sailors and Marines during the deployment. Jacobs attributed these issues—including delays in mail delivery, supply shortages, and declining morale—to leadership decisions under former President Donald Trump.
As of Monday, the Abraham Lincoln was still en route to its homeport in San Diego. The Navy has signaled that more information about Monday’s mishap aboard the Eisenhower may be released in the coming days.