Naval officers Lt. Cmdr. James Brice Johnson and Lt. Caleb Nathaniel King were identified by the U.S. Navy on Thursday as the aviators who were killed after their F/A-18 Super Hornet jet crashed on Wednesday.
The crash occurred off the coast of Key West, Fla., and the two were taken to Lower Keys Medical Center before the Navy confirmed they had died.
“Johnson, a Naval Aviator and 2007 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, was piloting the jet when the incident occurred while King, a 2012 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was serving as the Weapons Systems Operator,” Naval Air Forces Atlantic said in a statement.
Johnson and King were assigned to the “Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 213 “Black Lions” and were stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.
“The entire Blacklion family is grieving the loss of two great Americans,” said VFA-213’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Kevin Robb. “Lt. Cmdr. Johnson and Lt. King were phenomenal young men, exceptional naval aviators, and were living models of what honor, courage, and commitment really mean.”
“As warfighters they excelled in combat,” he added. “As naval officers they exemplified the qualities of what our Navy values most dear. I was extremely proud to have led, flown, and served with both Brice and Caleb.”
The crash occurred during a training session Wednesday at NAS Key West and is under investigation.
President Trump offered his condolences hours after the accident.
“Please join me with your thoughts and prayers for both aviators, their families and our incredible @USNavy,” Trump tweeted.
Please join me with your thoughts and prayers for both aviators, their families and our incredible @USNavy. https://t.co/60bHhrp8Y1
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2018
