Two Navy aviators ejected during an aircraft recovery mishap aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower; four sailors were injured.

What happened aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

At approximately 6:18 p.m. EDT on Sept. 28, a mishap occurred during aircraft recovery operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off the coast of Virginia, the U.S. Navy stated. Two aviators assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 ejected from their aircraft during the incident and were promptly recovered by search-and-rescue personnel. Both aviators were returned to the ship and were undergoing medical evaluations at the time of the report.

Four shipboard sailors were also injured during the event. One sailor was evacuated to a hospital in the Norfolk area for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, while the remaining three received medical care on the vessel. The Navy characterized the event as a “mishap” but did not specify the nature of the incident or the cause.

The service did not identify the specific aircraft type involved or confirm whether the plane was lost. However, the fact that two aviators ejected narrows the possibilities to two-seat aircraft operated by Carrier Air Wing 3. These include the F/A-18F Super Hornet flown by Strike Fighter Squadron 32 and the EA-18G Growler operated by Electronic Attack Squadron 130. The carrier’s single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornets do not carry a second crew member.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to sea in April 2026 following a 15-month Planned Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The maintenance period included work on the ship’s combat systems, propulsion plant, and habitability spaces. The carrier had previously deployed to the Red Sea in 2023 and 2024 in support of Operation Prosperity Guardian.

A Navy spokesperson told CNN that the service would report more details as they become available. The carrier is currently the flagship for Carrier Strike Group 2, which is scheduled to return to sea in 2027.

Why the incident matters for carrier operations

The incident occurred during aircraft recovery operations aboard the Nimitz-class USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a phase of flight where the ship’s crew coordinates the landing of returning jets. According to the Navy, the mishap happened at approximately 6:18 p.m. EDT on September 28 off the coast of Virginia. While the specific cause remains unknown, the event underscores the inherent risks of carrier deck operations and the critical role of emergency protocols.

Following the ejection of the two aviators, search-and-rescue personnel promptly recovered the crew members and returned them to the ship for medical evaluation. The Navy explicitly cited the crew’s emergency training as the factor that enabled a quick and safe response to the unexpected situation. One of the four injured sailors was evacuated to a Norfolk-area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; the Navy did not describe how the four shipboard personnel were hurt.

The ability to execute a swift search-and-rescue operation during a high-tempo recovery window is a direct result of the rigorous training regimen Navy crews undergo. The service noted that carrier crews regularly train for emergencies and unexpected situations during flight operations. The Navy has not disclosed what triggered the mishap or the sequence of events that led to the ejections.

Although the aircraft type was not identified, the involvement of two aviators suggests a two-seat platform, such as the F/A-18F Super Hornet or EA-18G Growler, which are standard to Carrier Air Wing 3. The carrier returned to sea in April 2026 after a 15-month maintenance period. The Navy said further details would be reported as they become available.

What we know about the aircraft and Carrier Air Wing 3

The U.S. Navy has not identified the specific type of aircraft involved in the mishap aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, nor has the service confirmed the squadron responsible. While the incident involved two aviators ejecting from a single airframe, the Navy has not stated whether the aircraft was lost or sustained damage beyond the ejection event.

Confirmed fact indicates that Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) operates two-seat aircraft capable of carrying a crew of two, specifically the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler. The F/A-18F is flown by Strike Fighter Squadron 32 (VFA-32), while the EA-18G is operated by Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130). Both platforms are equipped with ejection seats for two crew members. In contrast, the F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the air wing is a single-seat aircraft.

The fact that two aviators ejected significantly narrows the list of potential aircraft to those with two-seat configurations. However, this detail does not definitively prove which specific model was involved. The two ejections narrow the possibilities to the air wing’s two-seat platforms, but they do not identify or prove either specific aircraft type. The air wing’s composition includes these two-seat types alongside single-seat variants, meaning the presence of two crew members is a necessary but not sufficient condition to identify the exact airframe.

Roles within the air wing are defined by the specific squadrons operating these platforms. VFA-32 conducts strike operations using the F/A-18F, while VAQ-130 performs electronic attack missions with the EA-18G. The Navy has not linked the incident to a specific mission profile or operational role at this time. The carrier returned to sea in April 2026 following a 15-month maintenance period, but no causal link between the maintenance and the current mishap has been established by official sources.

Eisenhower had recently returned from a major maintenance period

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower concluded a 15-month Planned Incremental Availability at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in April 2026. This extensive maintenance and repair period included work on the ship’s combat systems, propulsion plant, and habitability spaces. Following the completion of these upgrades, the carrier successfully completed sea trials on April 24, 2026.

After returning to sea, the vessel resumed operational training. According to recent Defense Department press releases, the Eisenhower was conducting carrier qualifications off the Virginia coast in late August. These exercises occurred just weeks before the mishap on September 28, which the Navy characterized as an incident during aircraft recovery operations.

While the carrier’s recent maintenance history is a matter of public record, no causal link has been established between the maintenance period and the current incident. The Navy has not indicated that maintenance issues contributed to the mishap. The service has stated that the circumstances of the incident remain unknown and has not specified the nature of the failure.

The Eisenhower’s return to the fleet followed a deployment to the Red Sea in support of Operation Prosperity Guardian during 2023 and 2024. During that deployment, Houthi forces claimed to have fired missiles at the ship in May 2024. The current incident occurred while the carrier was operating off the Virginia coast, separate from the Red Sea theater.

The carrier is the Navy’s second-oldest aircraft carrier still in operation, commissioned in 1977. The maintenance period was intended to extend the ship’s service life. Despite the recent completion of sea trials and carrier qualifications, the Navy has not released details regarding the specific cause of the aircraft mishap.

What remains unknown about the mishap

The U.S. Navy has not disclosed the specific cause of the incident that occurred during aircraft recovery operations aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. A statement released by the service characterized the event as a “mishap” but explicitly stated that the circumstances surrounding the event remain unknown. Officials did not identify the nature of the failure or the sequence of events that led to the two aviators ejecting from their aircraft.

Furthermore, the Navy has not confirmed the condition of the aircraft involved in the mishap. The presence of two aviators narrows the plausible aircraft types to two-seat platforms such as the F/A-18F Super Hornet or EA-18G Growler, but the service has not identified the model or disclosed the aircraft’s condition after the event. The official statement provided no details regarding the status of the airframe following the ejection.

Similarly, the mechanism by which four sailors sustained injuries has not been explained. The Navy confirmed that one sailor was evacuated to a hospital in the Norfolk area for non-life-threatening injuries, while the others received treatment on the ship. However, the service did not describe how the personnel were injured or the specific hazards that led to their injuries during the recovery operations.

Addressing the lack of immediate information, a Navy spokesperson told CNN that the service would report more details as they become available. The carrier, which recently completed a 15-month maintenance period, is currently conducting operations off the Virginia coast. Until the Navy releases additional information, the precise circumstances of the mishap remain unverified.

Key takeaways

• Two aviators assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 ejected from an aircraft during a mishap on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off Virginia on Sept. 28.
• Four sailors aboard the carrier were injured, with one transported to a Norfolk hospital for non-life-threatening injuries while others received care on board.
• The Navy confirmed the aviators were promptly recovered by search-and-rescue personnel and returned to the ship for medical evaluation.
• The specific aircraft type and cause of the incident remain unconfirmed, though the two-seat configuration suggests an F/A-18F Super Hornet or EA-18G Growler.

What to watch next

The Navy has indicated it will release further details as the investigation into the Sept. 28 incident progresses. Observers will monitor for updates regarding the specific aircraft model involved and the precise circumstances leading to the recovery mishap. While the carrier recently completed a 15-month maintenance period and returned to sea in April, officials have not linked the accident to maintenance issues. Additional official statements could clarify the aircraft’s status and provide more detail about the four sailors’ injuries. Additionally, the timeline for the carrier’s return to full flight operations and the future deployment schedule for Carrier Strike Group 2 in 2027 remain points of interest for defense analysts.