The Navy has identified the F/A-18C Hornet pilot who is presumed dead after his aircraft collided with another Hornet on Friday as Lt. Nathan Poloski.
The two Hornets from the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson were conducting routine flight operations about 250 miles from Wake Island when the collision occurred, according to the Navy. The other pilot was recovered about 45 minutes after the incident.
After a 36-hour search of more than 3,000 square miles failed to find him, the Navy called off the search for Poloski on Saturday.
Poloski, 26, is a 2009 Naval Academy graduate who joined Strike Fighter Squadron 94, based in Lemoore, Calif., in April 2014, according to a 7th Fleet news release on Sunday.
“Nathan was an outstanding person, naval officer and aviator,” Cmdr. Michael Langbehn, commanding officer of the squadron, said in the news release. “My personal thoughts and prayers are for his family, friends and shipmates as they endure this immeasurable loss.”
A memorial service for Poloski will be held aboard the Carl Vinson, according to the news release. The cause of the collision is under investigation.
