The wreckage of a Navy jet that crashed on a mountainside east of Mount Rainier in Washington has been located by aerial search crews, according to U.S. Navy officials. The EA-18G Growler crashed on Tuesday afternoon during a routine training flight, and the status of the two crew members remains unknown as search efforts continue. An Emergency Operations Center has been established at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to coordinate response efforts, and the Navy is preparing to secure the remote crash site that is not accessible by motorized vehicles. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.
The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18 family of aircraft and is outfitted with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite used for tactical jamming and electronic protection. The jet was built to replace the EA-6B Prowler and first went into production in October 2004. It made its inaugural flight in August 2006, with the first delivery of the aircraft being made on June 3, 2008, to VAQ 129 at NAS Whidbey Island. Each jet comes with a price tag of $67 million.
The Navy expressed gratitude for the teamwork displayed by NAS Whidbey Island squadrons, including VAQ, VP, VQ, TOCRON 10, and SAR, as they respond to the crash. Local law enforcement, responders, and tribal communities have also been praised for their partnership in planning critical next steps for access to the crash site. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and the Navy said it will release more information as it becomes available.
A Navy parachutist crash-landed on a mother and teenager during a performance in San Francisco, according to video footage. The EA-18G Growler that crashed on the mountainside east of Mount Rainier was based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and reportedly crashed during a routine training flight. The status of the two crew members is unknown, and search efforts are ongoing in the remote crash site inaccessible by motorized vehicles. An Emergency Operations Center has been established at NAS Whidbey Island to oversee response efforts.
The investigation into the crash of the EA-18G Growler is ongoing, and the Navy is working to secure the remote area where the jet crashed. The aircraft, which comes with a $67 million price tag, was built to replace the EA-6B Prowler and is outfitted with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite used for tactical jamming and electronic protection. The Navy expressed gratitude for the teamwork displayed by NAS Whidbey Island squadrons, local responders, law enforcement, and tribal communities partnering in response efforts. More information on the crash will be released as it becomes available.
