Thirty sailors and Marines assigned to Norfolk-based Navy ships were injured Wednesday in a hovercraft training mishap, the Navy said.
On Friday, the Navy said two hovercraft vessels collided during training off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. A third hovercraft, also known as air-cushioned landing craft, immediately responded and transported 38 service members onboard to the USS Wasp and USS New York for evaluation and treatment. Of those, 30 were injured.
The sailors and Marines were serving aboard the amphibious ships, both homeported at Naval Station Norfolk. One of the hovercraft vessels was from the Wasp and the other was from the New York, said Lt. Cmdr. Kristi Johnson, spokesperson for U.S. 2nd Fleet. Both hovercraft vehicles remained afloat and have since returned to their ships, she said.