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ATAC Hawker Hunter Crashes Off Big Sur as Navy Helicopter Rescues Pilot

Investigators are examining a contractor-flown Hunter used in U.S. adversary training after its ocean ditching near Big Sur.

An ATAC Hawker Hunter F58 at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, on September 10, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John T. Jarrett)
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Overview

  • Two ATAC-operated Hunters were flying together when ATAC 12 went down shortly after 11 a.m. local time on Oct. 15 near Big Sur.
  • ATAC 11 circled the site, transmitted a 7700 emergency code, and helped relay details to controllers before rescuers arrived.
  • An NAS Lemoore MH-60S Seahawk, callsign RESCUE04, recovered the pilot from the water and flew him to Stanford Medical Center.
  • Initial reports cited a serious spinal injury; local station KSBW later reported a coworker said the pilot was uninjured and released, with official confirmation still pending.
  • The cause remains undetermined as ATAC says it is cooperating with the inquiry; the firm flies vintage jets for U.S. training and has logged prior Hunter incidents documented by safety databases.