{"id":473634,"date":"2026-09-24T00:40:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T00:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/473634\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T00:40:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T00:40:20","slug":"pilots-chilling-audio-heard-as-military-jet-crashes-into-pacific-off-california-coast-mayday-mayday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/473634\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilot\u2019s chilling audio heard as military jet crashes into Pacific off California coast: \u2018Mayday, mayday\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A fighter jet fell out of the sky <\/a>and disappeared into the Pacific off California on Tuesday night after its pilot suddenly lost engine power, triggering a frantic mayday call, an ejection and a military rescue.<\/p>\n

The Hawker Hunter <\/a>was cruising above 32,000 feet when things went sideways. Within minutes, the aircraft was plunging toward the ocean at more than 10,000 feet per minute, according to Noozhawk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Then came the chilling radio call.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A front view of a grey Mk-58 Hawker Hunter jet with number 26 on its nose. atacusa.com<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People enjoy warm weather along the coastline in Pismo Beach, California, on May 17, 2026. Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An MK-58A Hawker Hunter fighter jet, call sign VIPER1, circles off Cayucos on Sept. 22, 2026, after another plane, SNAKE4, crashed into the ocean. The jets were conducting exercises off Monterey Bay before SNAKE4 lost thrust in its engine, forcing the pilot to eject and be rescued by a Navy helicopter. noozhawk.com<\/p>\n

“Mayday, mayday, mayday, I have lost thrust in my engine,” the pilot said as an air traffic controller tried to get him pointed toward Paso Robles, the nearest airport.<\/p>\n

The aircraft ultimately went down at about 6:49 p.m., roughly six miles northwest of Morro Bay. Its signal disappeared at 3,425 feet.<\/p>\n

The pilot, flying under the call sign Snake4, ejected before the jet hit the water and was later plucked from the ocean <\/a>by a Naval Air Station Lemoore UH-60 helicopter carrying a rescue swimmer.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Hawker Hunter Mk.58 of Hawker Hunter Aviation arrives during The Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 Arrivals Day at RAF Fairford in Cirencester, United Kingdom, Thursday, July 18, 2024. ZUMAPRESS.com<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A vintage Hawker Hunter Mk 58 and four F\/A 18 Hornet fighter jets release flares during a flight demonstration of the Swiss Air Force over the Axalp in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. REUTERS<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An aerial view of the Pismo Beach coastline is seen in Pismo Beach, California, May 17, 2026. Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n

He was flown to Community Hospital in downtown Fresno, where the helicopter arrived around 8:20 p.m.<\/p>\n

John Rupp, ATAC’s director of global military sales, told FOX26<\/a> that the pilot was doing well and was undergoing tests at the hospital.<\/p>\n

The downed jet, registration N345AX, belonged to Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, or ATAC, a private military contractor that supplies aircraft for training exercises involving the US Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.<\/p>\n

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The aircraft had been flying with at least three other planes during exercises off the Monterey and San Luis Obispo County coasts, according to FlightRadar24. <\/p>\n

Rupp said the mission involved both the Navy and Marine Corps but did not disclose exactly what the pilots were doing.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A U.S. military MK-58 Hawker Hunter fighter jet flies over U.S. and Philippine troops during assault exercises in joint drills at a Philippine Naval base in San Antonio, Zambales, Oct. 9, 2015. REUTERS<\/p>\n

\"Elephant<\/p>\n

Elephant seals gather at the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery in San Simeon, California, on Saturday, June 29, 2019. The rookery spreads out over six miles of beach from Point Piedras Blancas on the central coast of California. ZUMAPRESS.com<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Hawker Hunter MK58 flown by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a private military contractor, flies near NAF Atsugi airbase, Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Japan. SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n

ATAC describes the Hawker Hunter as a versatile training aircraft used in air-to-air, air-to-surface and broader fleet exercises.<\/p>\n

The aircraft had launched from Point Mugu Naval Air Station near Oxnard, according to Naval Base Ventura County Installation Public Affairs Officer Nichole Went.<\/p>\n

Now investigators are considering next steps after the jet vanished beneath the waves.<\/p>\n

It remains unclear whether the aircraft will be recovered, how deep it lies or how much a salvage operation could cost.<\/p>\n