E-2C Hawkeye crashes off US Atlantic coast
20 Aug 2007
A Navy E-2C Hawkeye aircraft from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 with three aviators onboard crashed in the Atlantic Ocean on 15 August while conducting operations from aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman.
Units from the Harry S Truman, USS Dwight D Eisenhower and the US Coast Guard are still conducting an air and sea search. The identities of the crew have not been released.
The aircraft crashed after dark at approximately 2300 hrs, following its launch from the Harry S Truman. The ship was approximately 150 miles southeast of the Virginia Capes, conducting routine training operations. The cause of the accident is being investigated.
VAW-120 is the east coast E-2C/C-2A Fleet Replacement Squadron based in the naval station at Norfolk. It trains pilots and naval flight officers before they are assigned to operational fleet squadrons.
The E-2C Hawkeye is a twin-engine turbo prop aircraft used for airborne command, control, and early warning. It normally carries a crew of five, including two pilots.