WASHINGTON – Two U.S. warplanes crashed over the Persian Gulf Monday, although the pilots were able to eject and have been pulled to safety, Pentagon officials said.
The F-18 fighter jets were stationed aboard the U.S.S. Harry Truman aircraft carrier, which is the lead boat in the carrier group stationed in the Persian Gulf.
One fighter was a one-seater, the other was a two-seater. Officials said all three pilots were recovered from the water and are reportedly safe aboard the Truman.
The two planes apparently collided.
The incident comes less than 48 hours after a tense standoff in the Strait of Hormuz involving three U.S. Navy vessels and five Iranian boats believed to belong to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
The small speed boats harassed the U.S. ships and came within 200 yards. But the U.S. ships to evasive measures to avoid striking the boats, and armed their weapons, and the Iranian boats retreated. The incident lasted 15-20 minutes.
FOX News' Justin Fishel contributed to this report.
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