2 Eject Safely Before Marine Jet Crashes in Ocean Off San Diego

Two crew members ejected safely from their Marine Corps photo reconnaissance jet Wednesday before it crashed off the San Diego coast during a routine training mission.

The crash, which took place about 3:20 p.m., is under investigation, Master Sgt. Steven Merrill said. The jet had taken off from El Toro earlier in the afternoon.

One crew member was identified as Capt. T.P. Hewitt, a reconnaissance systems operator. The pilot’s name was withheld pending notification of the next of kin, he said.

The two men were picked up minutes after the crash by the tank landing ship Peoria, a Navy vessel that had been operating in the area, Merrill said. The men were flown by helicopter to the El Toro base for a precautionary medical examination, he said.

The plane, an RF-4B Phantom jet, is part of the air station’s Marine Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. It was purchased for $5 million, Merrill said. He wasn’t sure how old the jet was, but the model was introduced in 1965, and the line is due to be replaced within a year.