Following a midair collision at an air show in western Idaho, two U.S. Navy jets, specifically EA18-G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 in Whidbey Island, Washington, crashed at the Mountain Home Air Force Base. The incident occurred during an aerial demonstration, as confirmed by Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Fortunately, all four crew members aboard the jets ejected safely, and the crash is currently under investigation.
The crew members, who ejected without injuries, were reported to be in stable condition by base officials. Despite the collision, no individuals at the military base sustained harm, according to Kim Sykes, the marketing director of the volunteer group Silver Wings of Idaho, involved in organizing the air show.
Two U.S. navy jets collided at an air show in western Idaho, with all four crew members successfully ejecting, officials reported. A video recorded by spectator Shane Odgen captures the moment of contact between the two aircraft, followed by the crew members’ ejection and parachute deployment.
Expressing relief, Sykes emphasized, “Everyone is safe, and I think that’s the most important thing.” The base promptly went into lockdown post-incident, leading to the cancellation of the remaining air show activities.
Videos shared online by witnesses depicted the sight of four parachutes opening in the sky as the planes descended near the base, located approximately 80 kilometers south of Boise.
The EA-18G Growler, equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems, is a modified version of the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet.
Shane Odgen, who witnessed the collision, described filming the jets as they came into close proximity. His footage captured the moment of impact and subsequent synchronized descent of the aircraft, leading to the crew members’ safe ejection and parachute deployment. The planes later collided and exploded upon impact as the crew members descended to the ground.
Recalling the sequence of events, Odgen stated via text message, “I was just filming thinking they were going to split apart, and that happened, and I filmed the rest.” He left the scene promptly after the crash to avoid interfering with emergency responders.
The air show, featuring flying displays and parachute jumps, is a commemoration of aviation history and showcases modern military capabilities. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron headlined the event on both days.
According to the National Weather Service
