The U.S. Navy’s F-5N Tiger II crashed at 9:20 a.m. local time about 25 miles off the coast of Key West Naval Air Base in Florida, the service said on Wednesday. An MH-60S Knight Hawk lifts a fighter pilot assigned to the Sun Downers of the 111th Fighter Squadron (VFC). The pilot was taken to a Miami hospital for further treatment, News.usni.org reported.
“The safety and well-being of our pilot remains our top priority. The causes of the incident will be investigated. More detailed information will be published as it becomes available,” the message reads.
In 2017, an F-5II assigned to the Sundowners crashed off the coast of Key West. After the crash, the pilot was found by the Coast Guard.
Sun Downers is a Naval Reserve enemy program that acts as an opposition force during air combat training. Pilots train against Navy, U.S. Marine Corps Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and National Guard fighter squadrons.
Below is the full service statement as of May 31, 2023.
We can confirm that a Navy pilot assigned to the Sun Downers of VFC 111 at Naval Air Station was fired from an F-5N approximately 25 miles from Boca Chica Field at around 9:00 am today: 20 a.m. NAS Key West Search and Rescue team, MH. Launched the -60S helicopter and rescued the pilot, who was being transported to a Miami area hospital for further investigation.
Source: Port Altele
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