Four U.S. Navy aviators survived a midair collision during an air demonstration Sunday in Idaho after ejecting from two EA-18G Growler aircraft moments before the jets crashed near Mountain Home Air Force Base.
The incident occurred during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show, a major public event that drew thousands of spectators and marked the return of the air show after an eight-year absence.
The Navy confirmed the aircraft belonged to the VAQ-129 “Vikings” Growler Demonstration Team based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state. Officials still have not publicly released the names of the four aviators involved in the crash.
The Navy also confirmed all four crew members safely ejected and were transported for medical evaluation following the crash. Officials stated the aviators remained in stable condition. Videos from spectators showed four parachutes deploying moments before the aircraft crashed near the base.
The incident represented one of the most serious military air show accidents in recent years involving operational U.S. Navy tactical aircraft.
Collision During Demonstration Maneuver
The collision occurred around midday during a scheduled aerial demonstration, according to Navy officials.
After the collision, both aircraft appeared to descend rapidly while connected or traveling in close proximity.
Aviation analysts reviewing publicly available footage said the aircraft appeared to remain controllable for several seconds after impact, giving both crews enough time to eject safely, according to the Associated Press. Former military aviators interviewed after the incident described the successful four-person ejection as remarkable given the low altitude and speed involved during the maneuver.
Within seconds, four parachutes opened in the sky as the aviators ejected from the aircraft. Witnesses at the event reported hearing gasps and screams from the crowd as the aircraft descended. The jets then crashed near the base perimeter, producing a large fireball and dark smoke visible from miles away.
Local emergency crews and military first responders quickly secured the crash site and extinguished brush fires ignited by the wreckage. No spectators on the ground were injured.
The survival of all four aviators highlighted the effectiveness of the Navy’s modern ejection systems and crew survival training.
The EA-18G Growler carries two crew members: a pilot in the front seat and an electronic warfare officer in the rear seat. Both aircraft involved in the collision were fully crewed. The aircraft uses Martin-Baker ejection seats designed to propel aviators safely away from disabled aircraft even at low altitudes and high speeds.
Investigation Will Focus on Formation Procedures, Air Show Safety
The Navy has launched a formal investigation into the collision.
Military aviation investigations typically examine pilot actions, aircraft mechanical issues, weather conditions, communications, and flight demonstration procedures. Local weather reports showed gusting winds of up to 29 mph in the area at the time of the demonstration, though investigators have not indicated weather played a role in the collision.
Officials also continued restricting access around parts of the crash area Monday while recovery and documentation operations remained underway.
Mountain Home Air Force Base officials canceled the remainder of the Gunfighter Skies Air Show shortly after the collision, per reports.
The base had promoted the event as a major regional attraction featuring military aerial demonstrations and static aircraft displays.
Although the collision destroyed two advanced military aircraft worth tens of millions of dollars each, the survival of all four aviators prevented the event from becoming a fatal disaster. Military officials emphasized that the successful ejections reflected extensive naval aviation emergency training and the reliability of modern escape systems under extreme conditions.
Read the full article here