They're Back: 2 Navy Jets Spotted Over Hudson River

Yes, North Jersey. You saw two U.S. Navy F/A-18 jets do a flyover about 3,000 feet over the Hudson River.

On Wednesday afternoon, residents near the Hudson River saw a pair of fighter jets zip up and down the waterway, looping between New Jersey and New York. After the fighter jets’ appearance, many took to social media in an effort to find out more.

Some of the answers they sought were provided by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Bayonne Office Of Emergency Management (OEM).

The NYPD gave the following statement about the planned flyover on Wednesday:

“Today at noon, two U.S. Navy F/A-18 aircraft will fly over the Hudson River, north to the Tappan Zee Bridge and then reverse course, and depart in the vicinity of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The flyover will occur at an elevation of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 feet.”

The Bayonne OEM issued the following advisory about the flyover on Wednesday:

“They’re back! Tomorrow at noon, two U.S. Navy F/A-18 jets will perform a flyover near Bayonne. Up and down Hudson River from Vz to Tappan Zee.”

According to the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 Hornet, an all-weather aircraft, is used as an attack aircraft as well as a fighter. In its fighter mode, the F/A-18 is used primarily as a fighter escort and for fleet air defense. In its attack mode, it is used for “force projection, interdiction and close and deep air support.”

Wednesday’s jet fighter visit is just one of several such recent appearances along the Hudson River.

In September, North Jersey residents within eyesight and hearing range of the Hudson River and Newark Airport area caught a glimpse of four fighter jets roaring through the skies. The jets' destination? A sporting event in Queens, New York.

• See related article: Here's Why You Saw Fighter Jets Over North Jersey (VIDEO)

Later that month, two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet aircraft crossed over the Hudson River at low altitudes on a similar flight path. Another flight involving three jets took place in early November.

• See related article: Two Planes To Fly Over Manhattan Landmarks

Main Photo (not the aircraft in the above article): A F/A-18D Hornet conducts air operations and maritime surface warfare training in the Arabian Gulf, July 2016; U.S. Navy

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