14 killed as combat plane crash-lands on US carrier

An electronic combat plane crashed during landing exercises on the flight deck of the nuclear powered carrier Nimitz, setting off a fire that killed 14 people and injured 45 others. The Nimitz, the world's second-largest carrier, was on a routine training mission when the accident occurred.

Comdr. Jim Lois said the carrier was about 60 miles off the coast of Jacksonville when the EA-6B, an electronic warfare plane, crashed. The resulting fire destroyed five aircraft and caused major damage to five others, he said, but the ship's nuclear propulsion system and navigational capabilities wer e not impaired.