THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 9, 1996 TAG: 9603090438
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, S.C. LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Heavy seas and strong winds hampered the search Friday for two missing Marine Corps fliers who reported their fighter jet was running out of fuel during maneuvers over the Atlantic Ocean.
The pilots aboard the F-18 Hornet are members of the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron-533 based at the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station. They went out in stormy weather to practice maneuvers.
Officials said the plane was about 7,500 feet in the air and about 30 to 35 miles southeast of Charleston when it was last heard from Thursday night.
The Coast Guard had a cutter, a helicopter and a C-130 transport searching the area Friday.
Although the storm front had moved through and skies were clear, winds were blowing at 30 to 45 mph and seas were rolling between 6 and 9 feet.
The fliers had radios and life jackets, but the search failed to turn up any sign of the fliers or wreckage.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT HELICOPTER ACCIDENT MILITARY by CNB