Mid-air collision at air show downs 2 US Navy jets; crews eject safely
Spectators watch four parachutes deploy before EA-18G Growlers crash near Mountain Home Air Force Base
All four crew members ejected safely after two US Navy jets collided on Sunday during an air show at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho, officials said.
The collision and subsequent crash involved two US Navy EA-18G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 in Whidbey Island, Washington, said Commander Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, US Pacific Fleet.
The aircraft were performing an aerial demonstration when the collision occurred, Umayam said in a statement. The four crew members from both jets safely ejected and the crash was under investigation, she said.
The crew members were in stable condition, base officials said.
Nobody at the military base was hurt, said Kim Sykes, marketing director with Silver Wings of Idaho, which helped to plan the air show.
“Everyone is safe and I think that’s the most important thing,” Sykes said.