Four Crew Eject as Two US Navy Jets Collide
Two US Navy jets collided in midair on Sunday in Idaho. All four crew members ejected before the planes crashed.
The crash happened at Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho. It occurred during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show.
The jets went down at about 12:10 p.m. local time. They crashed about two miles from the base.
After ejecting the four crew members were checked by medical staff. Their full medical status had not been confirmed.
Each jet carries a pilot and an electronic warfare officer. The jets belonged to a Navy unit based at Whidbey Island in Washington state.
A nearby road was closed for a multi-day investigation. A formal investigation is underway.
Klear Note — Air shows display military aircraft and flying skills. Ejection seats let pilots escape damaged planes safely. Mountain Home Air Force Base is in Idaho.
Key Terms 3
- EA-18G Growler A US Navy jet used to disrupt enemy radar and communications
- Electronic Attack Squadron 129 A US Navy unit based in Whidbey Island, Washington state
- eject Crew are fired out of the jet by a special seat to survive a crash