F-14 Tomcat Fighter Crashes Into Ocean; 2 Crewmen Rescued
An F-14 Tomcat fighter based at Miramar Naval Air Station plunged into the sea off Point Loma on Wednesday, but both crewmen ejected safely and were rescued, authorities said.
It was the fourth crash of a Miramar-based F-14 since December, and the 102nd since the fighter was introduced into service in 1972. Just last week, a Miramar-based F-14 crashed near San Clemente Island. Both crewmen ejected safely.
Navy spokesman Cmdr. Doug Schamp said it did not appear that there was any connection between the two crashes, both of which are under investigation.
Wednesday’s crash occurred about 6 p.m., Schamp said, after the aircraft developed problems while on a routine exercise from the carrier Carl Vinson. The pilot was attempting an emergency landing at North Island Naval Air Station, Schamp said, when the decision was made to eject.
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