2 Marine fighter pilots rescued; SC crash probed

A Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot and his weapons officer tried to make it back home after both engines on their warplane failed and a fire broke out, but they were forced to eject and ditch the aircraft in the ocean, a spokesman said Thursday.

"The fire was making its way toward the cockpit, so they determined they could not make it back and they were forced to eject," said Marine Corps spokesman Gunnery Sgt. Chad McMeen.

The accident Wednesday ended safely when the duo were plucked from a survival raft by a Coast Guard search and rescue crew from Charleston, McMeen said.

"It really was a miracle. They were back on land within about two hours of the incident," McMeen said.

Neither man suffered serious injuries, but they were sent for medical evaluations as a precaution, the spokesman said.