Local News in Brief : San Diego

The search for a Navy electronics warfare jet that disappeared at sea has been called off and the four crew members are presumed dead, the Navy announced Tuesday.

Names of the four aviators aboard the missing Grumman-made EA-6B Prowler were not released pending notification of relatives, said Navy spokesman Lt. Gordon Hume.

The cause of the aircraft’s disappearance is unknown.

The twin-engine jet took off from the San Diego-based aircraft carrier Constellation on a nighttime training exercise at 11:09 p.m. Sunday, about 900 miles off the San Diego coast. It was reported overdue at 2:13 a.m. Monday.

Two ships, the guided missile cruisers Lake Champlain and Leahy, joined aircraft and other ships of the Constellation battle group in an air and sea search throughout the day, Hume said. Two of the search planes spotted several pieces of debris believed to be wreckage from the lost aircraft, but the material sank before it could be recovered, Hume said.

The search was abandoned at 5:30 p.m. Monday, shortly after sunset.

The jet was from Electronic Warfare Squadron 139 based at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Washington. It was accompanying the Constellation on a six-month deployment to the western Pacific. The aircraft carrier left San Diego Thursday.

The $22-million EA-6B is a tactical warfare jet that assists other aircraft operations by interfering with enemy radar and other defense systems, according to the Navy.