Two Navy T-45 Trainer Aircraft Collide in Texas; One Pilot Treated for Minor Injuries

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A student naval aviator conducts a training flight in a T-45C Goshawk.
A student naval aviator and instructor pilot aboard Naval Air Station Kingsville conduct a training flight in a T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft, Nov. 19, 2020. (U.S. Navy/Lt. Michelle Tucker)

A pilot sustained minor injuries after two U.S. Navy T-45 Goshawk training aircraft from Training Squadron 22 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, collided in mid-flight Monday morning,

The incident happened in Ricardo, about eight miles from the base, at approximately 11 a.m. local time, the Naval Air Training Command announced on its official Facebook page.

One of the aircraft landed safely back at NAS Kingsville. The second trainer's instructor and student pilot ejected near Ricardo, the announcement states.

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One of the pilots was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg for minor injuries; the announcement did not identify who was injured. The service did not say how many pilots were aboard the aircraft that made it back to base.

"The incident is currently under investigation and the U.S. Navy is cooperating fully with local authorities," the Facebook post said.

The Navy is asking local authorities and the general public to report any sightings of aircraft debris in the area. It also advises against touching or moving the debris.

The average age of the Navy's Goshawk aircraft is 20 years; some of its earliest models date back to the late 1980s. The Navy has 194 T-45s in its inventory.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

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