| Release #: 10-06 |
| Release date: Oct. 15, 2003 |
| Contact: Petty Officer Dana Warr |
|
==================================================================== |
|
Coast Guard rescues two Marine Corps pilots Video Available |
|
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., -- A helicopter crew from Air Station Savannah, Ga., rescued two U.S. Marine Corps pilots about 9:45 a.m. after two F-18 Hornet fighter jets went down in the Atlantic Ocean 40 miles east of Hilton Head, S.C., today. Department of Defense air traffic controllers notified the Coast Guard about 8:40 a.m. today of the downed aircraft with two pilots on board. The Coast Guard immediately launched two rescue helicopters from Air Station Savannah and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin to conduct searches of the known location of the accident. The air station crews, with the assistance of Marine Corps jets, arrived onscene and located the pilots alive. The pilots of each aircraft were hoisted by the Coast Guard air crew and taken to the Hilton Head Airport where they were transferred to an awaiting Marine Corps helicopter. The two pilots were in good condition. The Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin is an 87-foot patrol boat homported in Charleston, S.C. Editors note: Video of the rescue has been released to the Savannah, Ga. media. Please contact your local affiliates to get a copy of the rescue video. -uscg- The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
printer friendly