Military training jet crashes into ocean near Morro Bay
September 23, 2026
By JOSH FRIEDMAN
A military training jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Morro Bay on Tuesday evening.
Shortly before 7 p.m., the pilot of an MK-58 Hawker Hunter ran into trouble. “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. I’ve lost thrust,” the pilot told an air traffic controller, according to a recording posted on social media.
The pilot ejected from the Hawker Hunter, and the jet crashed about six miles northwest of Morro Bay. A Coast Guard crew then searched the area with help from other agencies’ personnel.
A Navy search and rescue helicopter located the pilot and hoisted him out of the ocean at about 7:30 p.m. The helicopter transported the pilot to a hospital in Fresno.
The Hawker Hunter had been operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a government contractor. ATAC operates aircrafts in a variety of training roles for the military.
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