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Navy Jet Crashes Off Key West, Killing Two Crew Members

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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami/AP) — Navy officials say a U.S. Navy fighter jet crashed Wednesday off the coast of Key West, Florida.

Several hours after the crash the Navy confirmed that the plane's two crew members have died.

According to officials, the F/A-18 Super Hornet was on approach to land at the naval air station around 4:30 p.m. EDT, and crashed into the water about a mile east of the runway.

The pilot and weapons system officer ejected and were recovered, but U.S. Naval Air Forces reported late Wednesday night that both had died.

Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The cause of the crash is also under investigation.

The aircraft crew is based out of Naval Air Station Oceana, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The Super Hornet is a twin-engine fighter jet that is larger than the single-seat F/A-18 Hornet.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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