Marines ground fighters after 2 jet crashes in South Carolina

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — Fighter jets based at the Marine Corps air station here have been grounded after two pilots died in jet crashes less than 48 hours apart.

Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Don Caetano said Tuesday the seven fighter squadrons based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort have been grounded while officials examine base procedures.

"It's the smart thing to do, and it's the safe thing to do," he said.

The second crash happened at the air station Monday, just minutes after military officials began briefing media about a crash Saturday night.

The pilot in the second accident, whose name was not immediately released, died Monday at a hospital after crashing next to the runway, Caetano said. The pilot was returning from a three-week training mission in Denmark.

On Saturday, pilot Capt. Franklin R. Hooks died during training exercises aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, said Lt. Col. Ross Roberts. Hooks' jet went down about 60 miles south of the Azores.