Navy confirms 2 dead in training jet crash

Two Navy pilots died when their training aircraft crashed in east Tennessee, the Navy said Monday.

“Two pilots were aboard the aircraft, an instructor and a student. The pilots did not survive the incident,” the office of the Chief of Naval Air Training said in a statement Monday.

The T-45 training aircraft went missing Sunday and was believed to have crashed.

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Training Air Wing ONE, based at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., confirmed Monday morning that it crashed, according to the statement.

The names of the pilots are being withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin is notified, the statement added.

The cause of the “mishap” will be investigated, the statement said.

T-45s were temporarily grounded earlier this year after about 100 pilots, including Vice President Pence’s son, refused to fly them. They cited a rash of incidents in which pilots appeared to suffer from oxygen deprivation.

The planes were allowed to fly again after being outfitted with upgraded oxygen sensors.

In response to the Tennessee crash, Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said the military readiness crisis must be fixed. 

“My heart goes out to families of 2 Navy pilots who died in T-45 crash in TN. We must address mil readiness crisis,” he tweeted.

My heart goes out to families of 2 Navy pilots who died in T-45 crash in TN. We must address mil readiness crisis. https://t.co/VasFZ3z2Tq

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) October 2, 2017