Two AA planes just "kissed" at DFW

[y_p_w]

This was during carrier quals. The pilot was a student; new to the airplane and landing shipboard for the first time.

Challenging, and risky enough with a perfectly working jet.

Terribly risky to bring a student aboard the boat with an engine out. The decision to divert (land ashore) was the best course of action.

The ship’s CO has the ultimate call on whether or not to bring an airplane aboard. I can’t imagine a CO recommending, or approving, that course of action (bring a student aboard with an engine out) in this case.

Wondering he could been trained on a trainer version. I know his was a two seater, but he was flying it alone. I didn’t see anything mentioning if it had dual
controls - not that it mattered.