Two Navy aviators eject during landing mishap aboard USS Eisenhower off Virginia
Two U.S. Navy aviators ejected during an attempted landing aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off Virginia on September 28, 2026. Six sailors were also injured; one was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Navy as reported by AP.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
Based on two sources with available article excerpts. Source-linked claims are not independent confirmation.
Event date: The mishap occurred at 6:18 p.m. Eastern time on September 28, 2026, during a nighttime landing off the Virginia coast. [1][2]
What happened
The accident happened at 6:18 p.m. Eastern time on September 28 during a nighttime attempt to land an aircraft on the nuclear-powered USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off Virginia. The Navy classified it as a mishap, its term for an accident during operations. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Dos aviadores eyectan y cuatro marineros resultan heridos al aterrizar en el USS Eisenhower frente a Virginiainfobae.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 11:54 AM UTC
- 2 Navy aviators eject while landing plane on carrier off Virginia, 6 other sailors also hurt - Las Vegas Sun Newslasvegassun.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 4:53 AM UTC
Two aviators assigned to an electronic-attack squadron and Carrier Air Wing 3 ejected during the landing attempt. The available accounts do not identify the aircraft type or say whether it was damaged or lost. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- 2 Navy aviators eject while landing plane on carrier off Virginia, 6 other sailors also hurt - Las Vegas Sun Newslasvegassun.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 4:53 AM UTC
Six sailors aboard the carrier were also injured, according to the Associated Press account. Ship medical personnel evaluated the aviators and injured sailors, while one sailor was transported to a hospital in the Norfolk area with non-life-threatening injuries. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- 2 Navy aviators eject while landing plane on carrier off Virginia, 6 other sailors also hurt - Las Vegas Sun Newslasvegassun.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 4:53 AM UTC
The cause of the emergency had not been specified. The incident occurred during a demanding carrier landing, in which an aircraft traveling at more than 240 kilometers per hour must stop in less than 100 meters on a moving deck, according to the reported description of the operation. [1]
References for this detail (1)
- Dos aviadores eyectan y cuatro marineros resultan heridos al aterrizar en el USS Eisenhower frente a Virginiainfobae.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 11:54 AM UTC
Context from the sources
The incident adds to a recent series of reported U.S. Navy aviation mishaps. The reporting also notes that the Navy had experienced multiple accidents involving USS Harry S. Truman during 2024 and 2025 operations, although those were separate incidents. [2]
What happened before, and what is different now
A documented earlier episode helps explain a possible mechanism. Its outcome does not predict this event.
The earlier episode
On May 6, 2025, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fell into the sea while attempting a nighttime landing on USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea; both crew ejected and were recovered. [1]
What connects them
Both incidents involved emergency ejections during nighttime carrier landing operations. [1][2]
What is different
The 2026 incident occurred aboard USS Eisenhower off Virginia and involved injuries to sailors aboard the ship, while the 2025 aircraft fell into the sea during operations in the Red Sea.
What to watch here
The earlier accident shows that a comparable carrier-landing emergency can involve aircraft loss and recovery operations, but it does not establish that the Eisenhower mishap had the same cause or outcome.
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
2 source links · 2 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [2] 2 Navy aviators eject while landing plane on carrier off Virginia, 6 other sailors also hurt - Las Vegas Sun Newslasvegassun.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 3
- [1] Dos aviadores eyectan y cuatro marineros resultan heridos al aterrizar en el USS Eisenhower frente a Virginiainfobae.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 4
Questions answered by the reporting
What this could mean for you
Further injuries or temporary disruption to carrier flight operations could follow if the mishap leads to additional safety checks or restrictions.
A landing accident can require investigation and inspection of aircraft, deck equipment or operating procedures before normal flight activity resumes.
Reported basis: [1][2] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: The Navy would need to identify a safety problem requiring corrective action or impose operational limits.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
Choose a country to check how this event could affect you.
What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
The Navy identifies a recurring equipment or procedural fault connected to the landing mishap.
Carrier flight operations are restricted after the investigation or inspections.
Pressure eases if…
The Navy confirms that the injured personnel recover and that no continuing operational problem was found.
Still unclear
The cause of the landing emergency and the aircraft’s condition were not specified.
The available reporting does not establish whether carrier operations were suspended or altered after the mishap.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (2)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
El portaaviones nuclear realizaba maniobras nocturnas cuando ocurrió el accidente; las autoridades no precisaron qué provocó la emergencia El apontaje es una de las maniobras…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
Published Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 | 9:53 p.m. WASHINGTON (AP) — Two U.S. Navy aviators ejected as they were landing their plane on the USS…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
AI-assisted analysis · . Based on linked headlines and available excerpts. Methodology · Report an error.