The MiG-23s continued to fly directly toward the American fighters at . The F-14s executed a defensive split, where both aircraft made turns in opposite directions. Both Libyan fighters turned left to pursue the second F-14, "Gypsy 202". Connelly prepared "Gypsy 207" for a right turn to get behind the MiG-23s as they went after the other American fighter. With the MiG-23s pointed directly at him, Lieutenant Commander Steven Collins, the RIO in "Gypsy 202", fired a third AIM-7 from roughly away and downed one of the Libyan aircraft. After executing a sharp right turn, "Gypsy 207" gained a position in the rear quadrant of the final MiG-23. As the Libyan fighter was turning left and at distance of , Connelly fired an AIM-9 missile which downed its target. The time was 12:02:36 when the last MiG-23 was hit by the AIM-9. The F-14s descended to several hundred feet in altitude and departed at high speed back to the carrier group. The Libyan pilots were both seen to successfully eject and parachute into the sea, but it is not known whether the Libyan Air Force was able to successfully recover them.