A Navy jet went down near Mount Rainier, but the fate of the two crew members remains unclear as search teams press on.
At a glance:
- The wreckage of a Navy EA-18G Growler was located on a mountainside near Mount Rainier, but the status of the two crew members remains unknown.
- The jet, based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, crashed during a routine training flight on Tuesday afternoon.
- Search efforts continue in the remote area, with local law enforcement and tribal communities assisting the Navy in coordinating access to the crash site.
The wreckage of a Navy EA-18G Growler was discovered on Wednesday, a day after the jet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state during a routine training mission. However, the fate of the two crew members aboard remains unknown as search teams continue to comb the difficult terrain.
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According to the U.S. Navy, the aircraft was part of the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The crash occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Despite locating the jet’s wreckage, the remote nature of the crash site has complicated search and rescue efforts, which are ongoing.
The Navy has established an Emergency Operations Center at NAS Whidbey Island to coordinate the response. Capt. David Ganci, commander of the Electronic Attack Wing, praised the efforts of the squadrons and local partners, saying their collaboration has been crucial for planning access to the crash site.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the Navy has provided limited details but confirmed that more information will be shared as it becomes available. The EA-18G Growler, a variant of the F/A-18, is equipped for electronic warfare and comes with a hefty price tag of $67 million.
The search for the missing crew members remains the Navy’s top priority.
