News
Marines rescued after 4 hours in the Pacific
Posted: Aug 11, 2011 4:20 PM by AP Posted by James H Egbert
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Two Marines are in serious but stable condition at a Navy hospital after spending four harrowing hours in the chilly Pacific Ocean.
They ejected last night from their F/A-18 Hornet jet as it went down. The two Marines drifted in their flight suits, yelling and blowing a whistle in the dark night, before a Coast Guard crew spotted them about 85 miles southwest of San Diego. A rescue swimmer dropped from a helicopter and plucked them from the ocean.
Their flight suits were outfitted with inflatable life vests. It's not clear what other survival gear they might have had.
The jet hasn't been recovered.
Marines in Southern California have had several crashes during training exercises this year.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
As Seen On News 5
