A military training fighter jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the California coast on September 22, with a search-and-rescue helicopter locating and rescuing the pilot from the water, according to officials.

The MK-58 Hawker Hunter took off from Naval Air Station Point Mugu and flew northwest before making several circles in the area. Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft was heading toward the coast when it disappeared from radar near Morro Bay at around 6:49 p.m.

Audio captured by LiveATC.net recorded the pilot issuing a distress call shortly before the crash. The pilot reported losing thrust in the aircraft’s engine and issued a Mayday alert.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft and had reported an engine problem before the crash.

A UH-60 search-and-rescue helicopter from Naval Air Station Lemoore was dispatched to the area. The crew located the pilot in the water and carried out an open-ocean rescue.

The pilot, whose identity has not been released, was taken to Community Hospital in Fresno for medical treatment and evaluation. John Rupp, director of Global Military Sales at Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, told KMPH that the pilot was doing well and undergoing tests.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment as they work to determine what caused the accident.

A final NTSB report is expected within three to six months, although investigators have not yet determined whether the aircraft will be recovered from the ocean.

The aircraft was substantially damaged in the crash, according to a preliminary report cited by KCRA. Officials said it was too early to determine how deep the aircraft was located or how much a potential recovery operation would cost.

FAA records show that the aircraft was built in 1973 and operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, a military contractor commonly known as ATAC.

The company did not disclose the specific training mission the aircraft was conducting when it crashed. However, the MK-58 Hawker Hunter is frequently used in military training exercises to simulate enemy aircraft.

ATAC provides contracted aviation support and training services to the US Department of Defense. Its website says the company supports training for crews from the US Navy, US Air Force and US Marine Corps and operates from numerous military air bases.

The company has a fleet of more than 90 aircraft and provides contracted air-support capabilities for military training programs.

The MK-58 Hawker Hunter is a single-seat fighter aircraft originally developed by British manufacturer Hawker Aircraft in the 1950s for the Royal Air Force. Although the aircraft is no longer used as a frontline fighter, modified versions continue to be used for military training.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and subsequent crash.

SOURCE: CNN, Laura Sharman and Diego Mendoza, updated September 25, 2026.