Two F/A-18C Hornet fighter jets crashed in the Pacific Ocean today near Wake Island. The Jets were based out of California's Lemoore Naval Air Station in the San Joaquin valley. The crash took place at approximately 5:40 pm local time. A more exact of the crash site was given by the Navy as 290 miles west of Wake Island. Wake Island is more than 2,000 miles west of Hawaii.

The two jets were part of Carrier Air Wing 17 which is currently traveling with the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

ABC News reports via the Associated Press that Jeannie Groeneveld, Navy Cmdr. from San Diego, Ca., stated that further details of the crash could not be revealed at this time, though she did comment that an official investigation is underway.

One of the two planes' pilots ejected safely, according to the Navy, and the other is still missing. Groeneveld stated that the recovered pilot is doing well and is receiving treatment aboard the Carl Vinson. Apparently, there were other Navy aircraft airborne when the crash occurred today, and all other craft not involved in the crash returned to the Vinson safely.

A search for the still missing pilot is underway and includes the Navy vessels USS Bunker Hill, USS Gridley, USS Sperett and the USS Dewey. The Navy also reports that two helicopter squadrons are joining in the search.

The two F/A-18C hornets that crashed were part of Strike Fighter Squadrons 94 and 113.

The jets left with the Carl Vinson from San Diego on August 22nd. The tour was supposed to last for approximately 9 months. 

The F/A-18C Hornet is the Navy's premier strike fighter and can strike both land, air and sea-based targets. The "C" model of the Hornet has been in service since the 1980s. The jets are nearly 60 feet long and seat only one pilot. The Hornet is built by McDonnell Douglas and is a twin-engine fighter capable of flying at speeds near 1.7 and flying at altitudes in exces of 50,000 feet.