Pilots sustain minor injuries after Navy F/A-18s collide in desert near Fallon

Two Navy F/A-18 "Hornet" aircraft collided Friday evening around 7 p.m. during night training operations near the Fallon Naval Air Station.

One pilot was able to safely land at the Naval Air Station in Fallon with damage to his aircraft's right wing. The other pilot ejected and was picked up by a Navy rescue team.

"Our search and rescue helicopter crews went out this evening and picked up the downed pilot," said Lt. William Phillips, duty officer at NAS Fallon Friday.

The pilots are being treated at the base medical clinic. "Both pilots sustained only minor injuries," said Lt. Phillips.

The collision occurred about 55 miles East of the air base in Fallon, about five miles north of highway 722 (old highway 50) in the Smith Creek Valley.

"I have not seen the tapes so I do not know the nature of the collision, whether it was head-on or if they only bumped each other," said Lt. Phillips. Both pilots are assigned to units based at NAS Oceana, Virginia. They are in Fallon as part of regular air wing training.

The incident is under investigation by the Navy.

"We are going to go out tomorrow morning and ascertain whether the downed jet is salvageable," said Lt. Phillips.

The scheduled Nevada Day fly-by of F/A-18 Hornets from NAS Fallon should not be affected by the collision.

"As far as I know, everything is still on for you guys in Carson City," said Lt. Phillips. A 7 a.m. meeting of department heads will make the final call.