Two aircraft assigned to the deployed aircraft carrier Carl Vinson suffered so-called “Class A” mishaps last week, but officials said no one was injured.

The first occurred at about 1 p.m. Nov. 22, when the starboard engine on a F/A-18E Super Hornet caught fire in flight during training over the Philippine Sea, according to Lt. Cmdr. Miranda Williams, a Carl Vinson spokeswoman.

The jet was able to return to the carrier, she said.

Two days later, at about 4:30 a.m. Nov. 24, a dipping sonar system used to hunt submarines “unexpectedly detached” from a cable connecting it to a MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter during anti-submarine warfare training, Williams said.

The dipping sonar equipment was lost to the sea and not recovered.

RELATED

Both incidents are under investigation, Williams said, and both aircraft remain onboard Carl Vinson and are expected to be returned to flight status.

A Class A mishap involves loss of life or more than $2.5 million in damage to an aircraft.

While the Naval Safety Center has deemed both mishaps at the Class A level, such designations are sometimes downgraded following investigations.

Carl Vinson deployed in August to the West Pacific waters of U.S. 7th Fleet and became the first carrier to deploy with the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter.

Geoff is a senior staff reporter for Military Times, focusing on the Navy. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was most recently a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at geoffz@militarytimes.com.

Share:
More In Your Military
In Other News
Rep. Rob Wittman on US Navy ship retirements and a sea-launched nuclear weapon
Two key issues have emerged this year as the most contentious for the Navy: a proposal to decommission 24 ships, and a decision to cut funding for a sea-launched tactical nuclear weapon. Congressional committees are thus far split on these issues, and the House Armed Services Committee will weigh in on Wednesday.
Load More