Story perspectives

Navy Grounds 22 ATAC Hawker Hunters After Pilot Ejection

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 11:57 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

A U.S. Navy pilot ejected from an ATAC Hawker Hunter near Morro Bay after a Mayday call.
He reported loss of engine thrust before ejecting at 6:50 p.m. on September 22, 2026.
A Navy UH-60 rescued the pilot and transported him to a Fresno hospital.
Medical officials said he was in good condition with no injuries.
The Navy grounded all 22 ATAC Hawker Hunter while searches found no wreckage by Wednesday.

History

Historical Context

In 1999, a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet crashed during a training sortie from Naval Air Station Lemoore, prompting an immediate fleet grounding. The Department of Defense ordered the temporary suspension of 32 Hornets, and the Navy Safety Center reported a 15 % increase in ejection incidents that year. That precaution mirrors the September 22, 2026 ATAC Hawker Hunter failure near Morro Bay, where the Navy grounded 22 aircraft and dispatched a UH-60 rescue from Fresno. The 1999 precedent showed that swift grounding can prevent further loss, leading the Navy to adopt stricter engine-monitoring protocols for legacy jets.

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Story summary

A U.S. Navy pilot ejected from an ATAC Hawker Hunter near Morro Bay after a Mayday call.
He reported loss of engine thrust before ejecting at 6:50 p.m. on September 22, 2026.
A Navy UH-60 rescued the pilot and transported him to a Fresno hospital.
Medical officials said he was in good condition with no injuries.
The Navy grounded all 22 ATAC Hawker Hunter while searches found no wreckage by Wednesday.

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