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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 8:31 a.m., Thursday, February 14, 2008

Navy crew released from hospital after Guam crash

Associated Press

HAGATNA, Guam — Four Navy aircrew members who ejected over the ocean before their plane crashed have been released from Guam's Naval Hospital.

Navy spokesman Lt. Donnell Evans told the Pacific Daily News it was unlikely the names of the four men would be released.

An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the crash of the EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft, he said.

It was unknown whether the military will seek to retrieve the wreckage.

U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Marcus Hirschberg said the four ejected Tuesday about 20 miles northeast of Ritidian Point.

The four were located about 30 minutes later by Navy rescue helicopters, which transported them to the hospital, Hirschberg said.

The plane was a part of Carrier Air Wing Five and was training in the area when it went down, Evans said. The aircraft and crew were part of the USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group, but the Kitty Hawk was not in the area, he said.

"They've been training on Guam out of Andersen Air Force Base the last couple of weeks," Evans said.

Guam is a U.S. territory located about 3,700 miles southwest of Hawai'i.