2 Navy jets crash off North Carolina coast; 4 survivors pulled from water

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Navy aviators disembark from a Coast Guard helicopter after being rescued from the waters off the North Carolina coast.

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - Two Navy jets crashed off the coast of North Carolina Thursday morning.

The U.S. Coast Guard and a commercial fishing vessel rescued four aviators that ended up in the water, officials said.

Initially, the two Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets were reported to have collided but the Coast Guard later said the jets had an "in-air mishap." The jets crashed about 25 miles east of Oregon Inlet around 10:15 a.m.

The fishing vessel "Tammy" rescued two of the survivors, while a Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City hoisted the other two aviators from the water, officials said. All survivors were taken to Norfolk General Hospital, according to the Coast Guard.

A Coast Guard spokeswoman said the aviators suffered minor injuries and are in "very high spirits," the AP reported.

The Super Hornets were from Strike Fighter Squadron, based out of Naval Air Station Oceana, the Coast Guard said.

The military is investigating the cause of the incident.