THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409150488
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CHERRY POINT, N.C. LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
An Oceana-based Navy fighter jet and its two crewmen were missing off the North Carolina coast late Wednesday after a midair collision with another jet, military officials said.
The two F-14s, based at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, were participating in maneuvers that involved Navy ships.
``One of the planes landed safely at Cherry Point, and one we believe crashed into the water, and search and rescue efforts are under way,'' said Lt. Susan Haeg with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk.
The two jets reportedly collided shortly after 11 p.m. about 30 miles off Cape Lookout.
A search helicopter was dispatched from Elizabeth City, and the Coast Guard ship Point Arena also was diverted to the area.
KEYWORDS: U.S. NAVY ACCIDENT PLANE by CNB