U.S. Navy photo A T-45C "Goshawk" crashed Sunday in Tennessee

A Naval Air Station Meridian instructor pilot and student died in an aircraft crash in Tellico Plains, Tennessee Sunday.

NAS Meridian confirmed that an instructor and student died in a short statement released on Monday, but declined to release their names until 24 hours after notifying the next of kin. 

The cause is under investigation.

Both of the pilots were from Training Squadron SEVEN, according to the Navy.

Training Air Wing ONE Capt. Nicholas A. Mungas read a statement aloud at 3 p.m. at NAS. Mungas has held the leadership position for only a few weeks after relieving Capt. Paul A. Carelli on September 15.

Mungas, reading from the statement, said an investigation team has arrived and begun an investigation into the cause, directing further questions to public affairs. He took no questions.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this incident. We will do everything we can to make sure they receive the help and care they need during this time,” Mungas said.

Mungas thanked Tennessee officials, such as the Monroe County Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Sheriff’s Office for their response and support.

The T-45 training jet crashed in Tennessee, near the Cherokee National Forest, Sunday afternoon. 

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, covering Tellico Plains, reported Sunday that the county dispatch initially received a call for a brush fire at 4:15 p.m.

Upon arrival, a Forestry Service Officer told dispatch a plane had possibly crashed in the Cherokee National Forest at 4:17 p.m.

The release stated that responders determined the crash, located deep in the forest, would need helicopter support for search and rescue. Helicopters, searching through debris, found the fuselage in the thick forest and rescuers attempted to rescue the occupants.

The sheriff’s office said it couldn’t release any more details and said further questions would need to be answered by the Navy.

The Navy briefly suspended all T-45C flights in early April and then limited flights to instructor pilots in May and June due to problems with the cockpit oxygen systems.

After nearly three months of investigation, the Navy announced in late June students at NAS Meridian would resumed flying the T-45 Goshawk after engineers found a way to circumnavigate problems with the oxygen system.

Goshawks based at NAS Meridian were involved in crashes at the base in September 2016 and again in January. In both cases, the two pilots in each jet ejected, taken to local hospitals, treated for injuries and released the same day. Both of those accidents are under investigation.

Dave Bohrer contributed to this report.