2 pilots, 2 crew members safe after Norfolk-based Navy plane crashes in Accomack County

Posted: Aug 31, 2020 / 04:18 PM MDT

Updated: Sep 1, 2020 / 06:41 AM MDT

ACCOMACK, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia State Police say four people are safe following a crash involving a U.S. Navy plane in Accomack County on Monday afternoon.

State police were alerted about the crash just before 4 p.m. Troopers arrived to find the wreckage of the aircraft near the intersection of Berry and Mason roads in Bloxom.

Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, public affairs officer for Naval Air Force Atlantic, said the plane was an E-2C Hawkeye based in Norfolk at Naval Station Norfolk.

Cragg said the two pilots and two crew members were able to bail out of the aircraft safely.

The Navy also said no structures or personnel on the ground were damaged or injured during the “mishap.”

BELOW: Chopper 10 flies above the scene of a Navy plane crash Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.

Stephen Gardner’s grandmother lives nearby the crash scene.

“She said she just heard a bang and she looked back and could see the flames, real big flames, probably bigger than a house. When I got here, it was just black smoke,” he said.

He said when he got back to her house after work, he saw the smoke cloud and went to take pictures of the scene.

Gardner said he never expected to come home to find something like the crash.

“I’m happy no one got hurt, especially by the house, the houses here. So if it went down anywhere, this was a good spot,” he said.

The plane is assigned to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 120 Fleet Replacement Squadron at Naval Station Norfolk, Cragg said. It was conducting a training operation at the time of the crash.

VAW-120 reports to Airborne Command & Control and Logistics Wing commanded by Capt. Michael France, the Navy said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Both roads closed at the intersection during to the crash investigation. A detour was set up.

State police was the lead agency at the scene.

Stay with WAVY.com for updates.