3 Sailors, Missiles Washed Off Carrier

Three sailors and 38 non-nuclear missiles on the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower were washed overboard during exercises this morning, the Navy said. Two sailors were rescued and one was missing.

Lt. Cmdr. Steve Burnett said the 18 Sparrow missiles and 20 Sidewinder missiles went down in deep water. He said the air-to-air missiles pose no risk.

The sailors were moving gear from the flight deck to the hangar deck when a wave washed them overboard about 90 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., he said.

Burnett said two of the sailors were rescued at 2:15 a.m. and were treated by the ship’s medical personnel. One was reported in critical but stable condition, the other in good condition. Their names were withheld.

Burnett said helicopters from a squadron in Jacksonville, Fla., took part in the search for the third sailor.