E-2 from Eisenhower crashes at sea
 

E-2C Hawkeye from USS Dwight D Eisenhower crashes in North Arabian Sea

Thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of those involved for the safe recovery of the 4th crew member.

Truly amazing effort to get those crew members resuced. May G-d be with the fourth crew member and a quick recovery as well.

Don't see that often - controlled bailout. Best of thoughts for the 4th crew member.

USMCFLYR

My airwing almost lost an E-2 due to an electrical fire, bailout was apparently the next step. Around '90 or '91 there was an E-2 bailout in the Med. The plane kept flying so they had a Hornet shoot it down. I'd heard they painted an E-2 on the canopy rail but CAG didn't see the humor and made them take it off.

Hope they find the last crewmember alive.

I remember the shootdown event and read about the electrical fire in 'Approach' I believe. That story sounds familiar.

USMCFLYR

I know one of the crew members that bailed out of that shootdown bird. he tells a pretty amazing story.

To my knowledge this will only be the second bailout ever. Praying they find the fourth, I know it's a brutal time to be in the squadron/air wing right now. Also seen first hand the assets involved in looking for them. No expense will be spared. Keep all involved in your thoughts and prayers.

Any idea what would cause a controlled bailout? How long does one have to prepare for a controlled bailout?

I'm hearing rumors, but won't post them.

The one that happened back in 90-91 was a fire that couldn't be extinguished. Crew jumped, plane was headed for a country we didn't want the wreckage in.

I won't specualte as to what caused the bailout but the E-2, like the C-2, has about 15 steps for a bailout. It's not easy is my understanding and judging from my C-2 days, it would not be easy from a C-2 which has a big more room to manuever inside the aircraft. We rarely wore parachutes in the COD though, usually only on FCF's as it was mandatory.

If it was just a mechanical which precluded a carrier LDG, there are other places to go land in the NAG. Must have been something like a fire. Hoping for the fourth guy to turn up cold, wet, and unharmed.