A US Navy E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Wallops Island and Chincoteague, Virginia, on March 30.
Two crew members were rescued by Maryland State Police and transported to Wallops Island for follow-on medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries, the service said.
The third crew member was found deceased in the aircraft. The Worcester County Fire Department Dive Team supported the search and recovery of the deceased.
According to the US Navy, the E-2D was assigned to an East Coast Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) and crashed at approximately 7:30 pm.
The navy said it would not release the names of injured crewmembers due to privacy concerns. The name of the crew member killed will also not be released at this time, pending primary next of kin notification.
The US Navy noted the incident was under investigation, adding that updates would be provided as the situation develops.
E-2D Hawkeye is a carrier-based twin-engine tactical battle management airborne early warning, command and control aircraft. The high-wing turboprop aircraft usually has a crew of five and flies with a 24-foot diameter radar rotodome attached to the upper fuselage. In addition AEW missions, it also performs surface surveillance coordination, air interdiction, offensive and defensive counter air control, close air support coordination, time critical strike coordination, search and rescue airborne coordination and communications relay.
