Navy pilot rescued after Hawker Hunter jet loses engine thrust off California

A Hawker Hunter MK-58 fighter jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Morro Bay, California, on Tuesday evening after the pilot reported a complete loss of engine thrust. The aircraft, operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) under a Navy and Marine Corps training contract, went down approximately six miles northwest of Morro Bay around 6:40–6:50 p.m. The pilot, identified by call sign Snake4, transmitted a mayday call stating "Mayday, mayday, mayday. I have lost thrust in my engine" before ejecting from the single-seat aircraft. A U.S. Navy search-and-rescue helicopter from Naval Air Station Lemoore, equipped with a rescue swimmer, retrieved the pilot from the ocean around 7:30 p.m. and transported him to Community Hospital in Fresno, arriving approximately 8:20 p.m.

The pilot is recovering and undergoing tests at the hospital. John Rupp, director of global military sales at ATAC, confirmed the pilot was in stable condition and stated the company was grateful for the medical care being provided. The aircraft had taken off from Point Mugu Naval Air Station and was conducting training exercises as part of a four-aircraft mission supporting both the Navy and Marine Corps. ATAC operates 22 Hawker Hunters in its fleet, deploying them as adversary aircraft for tactical training across the U.S. armed forces.

Following the incident, the Navy grounded all Hawker Hunters operated by ATAC pending investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is investigating the crash. The cause of the engine failure remains under investigation. Recovery of the aircraft from the ocean has not yet been determined, with officials noting it is too early to assess retrieval feasibility or costs. This is not the first engine-related incident involving ATAC's Hawker Hunters off the California coast; in October 2025, another Hawker Hunter experienced a complete loss of engine power in the Big Sur area, though the National Transportation Safety Board could not determine the cause.