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U.S. Jet Crashes on Aircraft Carrier in Arabian Sea, Causing Minor Damage, but No Injuries
Wednesday, January 9, 2002
(3:08 PM ET)
By Paul Garwood
The Associated Press

ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT -- AP
A U.S. jet crashed on this aircraft carrier's deck late Wednesday, spraying sparks as it skidded to a halt but causing no injuries, said the ship's spokesman.

Lt. John Oliveira said the two-man S-3B Viking refueling plane crashed at 7:44 p.m. as it landed on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which has been launching warplanes toward Afghanistan since arriving in the Arabian Sea in mid-October.

Before attempting to land, the plane had been in the air for about 20 minutes, flying above the carrier on a refueling mission, said Oliveira.

``The plane was coming in OK, but its right-hand side landing gear came off when it hit the deck,'' said a 19-year-old seaman who witnessed the crash from an observation area on top of the carrier's control tower.
(More: South Florida Sun-Sentinel News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan