Navy identifies pilot killed in Hornets crash

WASHINGTON — The U.S.Navy has identified a pilot presumed dead when two F/A-18 Hornets crashed Friday while flying off the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the western Pacific.

Lt. Nathan Poloski, 26, a native of Lake Arrowhead, Calif., was declared presumed deceased Sunday, the Navy said in a release.

A 2009 graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Poloski reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 94, based in Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., in April.

"Nathan was an outstanding person, naval officer and aviator," said Cmdr. Michael Langbehn, commanding officer of the squadron. "My personal thoughts and prayers are for his family, friends and shipmates as they endure this immeasurable loss."

Following the apparent collision, the Navy conducted an extensive search for Poloski, covering more than 3,000 square miles using the Carl Vinson, guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley, USS Sterett, USS Dewey, helicopters assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 15 and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Guam, and satellite imagery. The search was unable to locate or recover any remains of the missing aviator.

The second pilot, who was rescued, was treated then released from medical facilities aboard the aircraft carrier, the Navy said in a statement. That pilot was not identified.

The Hornets were assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17, which is based at Lemoore. The aircraft have not been recovered, the Navy said.

The Carl Vinson and the embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 left San Diego on Aug.2 for the U.S. 7th Fleet area supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The Navy said it was investigating the cause of the incident.

A memorial service for Poloski will be held aboard the Carl Vinson. A date and time have not been determined, the Navy said.

Contributing: Doug Stanglin, Paste BN