FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A military training fighter jet crashed into the waters off Morro Bay on Tuesday night, prompting a rescue that brought the pilot to a Fresno hospital.
The aircraft, identified as a Hawker Hunter MK-58 with the pilot call sign Snake4, took off from Point Mugu Naval Air Station and went down at 6:49 p.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the crash occurred roughly six miles northwest of Morro Bay.
The flight path of the MK-58 Hawker Hunter that crashed near Morro Bay, California, on September 22, 2026. (Photo: flightradar24.com)
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The Coast Guard said the pilot was rescued by a Naval Air Station Lemoore UH-60 search-and-rescue helicopter with a rescue swimmer on board.
The pilot was then flown to Fresno’s Community Hospital in downtown Fresno, with the helicopter touching down about 8:20 p.m.
Before the jet hit the water, the pilot radioed a Mayday reporting a complete loss of engine thrust and ejected, according to the information provided.
The aircraft is owned by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), which plays an aggressor role at a variety of locations, including Point Mugu.
ATAC said its pilot, a retired military member, is in good condition at CRMC and is staying at the hospital so a few more tests can be run.
They also said it’s unknown how deep the water is where the plane went down, so it’s unknown what will happen to it.