Two aircrew members ejected safely during a landing mishap involving a US Navy EA-18G Growler aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). The incident occurred on September 28, 2026, off the coast of Virginia during routine recovery operations.
The two aviators from Carrier Air Wing 3 were promptly recovered by search and rescue teams and evaluated by medical staff on the ship. The US Navy confirmed that four additional shipboard personnel sustained injuries during the event. One sailor was transported to a local medical facility in Norfolk, Virginia, with non-life-threatening injuries.
While the Navy has identified the airframe as an EA-18G Growler, an official investigation into the cause of the mishap is currently in progress. The carrier, which recently returned to service in April following a 15-month maintenance period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, continues to support flight operations. Specific details regarding the extent of damage to the aircraft or the factors contributing to the recovery failure have not been released at this time.