Two Naval pilots had to be rescued from the water Monday night after an unspecified ‘mishap’ led to them being ejected from their aircraft.

The aviators were assigned to Carrier Air Wing aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier while it was stationed off the coast of Virginia when the ‘mishap’ occurred at around 6.18pm, the US Navy announced.

Both pilots were then quickly rescued and have since returned to the ship, where they are being evaluated by medical personnel.

Four shipboard personnel were also injured in the incident, and one sailor was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The terrifying ordeal came amid the USS Eisenhower’s early carrier qualifications, according to the US Naval Institute.

It had completed its most recent repair period in July, and was seen on Monday afternoon departing from Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.

It is unclear what may have caused the pilots to eject and what type of aircraft they were flying at the time, but the US Navy has two types of two-seat carrier aircraft – the F/A-18F Super Horney and the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft – assigned to air wings.

Two Naval pilots assigned to the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier (pictured) were ejected from their aircraft Monday night and had to be rescued from the water

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.