Two Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornets were forced to divert during a flight to Singapore and land at an airport in Taiwan after a warning light indicated a problem with one of the jets.

During an April 1 flight from Japan to Singapore on Wednesday, one of the Hornet's oil pressure warning lights illuminated, prompting the pilot it to divert the flight and land at Tainan Airport. The second Hornet also landed at the Taiwanese airport "in order to maintain section integrity," Marine Forces Pacific Spokesman Chuck Little said in a statement.

Both aircraft are assigned to were from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, the Death Rattlers, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. The aircraft, however, were flying out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, where they're based temporarily as a part of the service's Unit Deployment Program.

The Marines aircraft were flying to Singapore to participate in Commando Sling, an aviation exercise with Singaporean troops.

The Hornets have since departed Taiwan, but it's not immediately clear whether MARFORPAC did not say if they completed the journey to Singapore or went elsewhere.

"Safety is always a top priority in any flight operation," Little said. "Our pilots have the responsibility for diverting their aircraft to the nearest approved airfield if they experience an in-flight condition which they deem unsafe. This is done in order to protect the pilots, crew and the aircraft."

Commando Sling, an air combat training exercise, started in 1990. Aside from Marine Corps squadrons and Singaporeans, the exercise has also involved has also involved jets from the U.S. Air Force, and on occasion, units from a third country. It's unclear who is participating in this year's exercise besides Marines and Singapore's military.

Share:
In Other News
Load More