Onlookers at an air show in Boise, Idaho, were taken aback on Sunday when a midair collision occurred between two U.S. Navy jets during their demonstration.
The unexpected event unfolded at Mountain Home Air Force Base amid the Gunfighter Skies Air Show, where two Navy EA-18 Growler aircraft collided in flight. Both planes were destroyed, but the pilots managed to eject safely. Videos of the incident soon surfaced on social media platforms.
A representative from the Navy confirmed that all four crew members successfully ejected and were found to be in stable condition following medical evaluations.
“Each of the aircrew was able to eject successfully,” remarked Commander Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for the Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, in an official statement.
As reported by ABC News, Commander Umayam mentioned that the jets were part of the Electronic Attack Squadron based at Whidbey Island, Washington. She also noted that an investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway.
According to ABC News, the two jets were “assigned to the Electronic Attack Squadron at Whidbey Island, Washington, Umayam said, adding that the cause of the crash is under investigation.”
“The air show was cancelled immediately after the crash, according to a post from the Mountain Home Police Department, which further advised spectators not to travel to the Air Force base,” added the outlet.
David Katz, who attended the air show with his family, told Fox News they witnessed the aircraft burn while in midair.
“We saw the smoke and fireball,” Katz said. “Apparently, they collided there. One of the planes was impacted and started burning in the air.”
Former Navy commander Phil Ehr called the safe ejection of two entangled vehicles a “miracle.”
“Four good parachutes popping out of those entangled aircraft is a miracle. That they all survived is another. Aviation combat training is inherently dangerous. Investigations will get to the bottom of this particular ‘Class A mishap,’ so other pilots learn and get stronger. In due course, ‘Approach,’ the Navy’s aviation safety magazine (available online), will cover the entire incident,” he posted on X.
“Crashes like this affects families, squadrons, bases and whole communities. These aviators are assigned to a Navy electronic attack squadron based at NAS Whidbey Island, a community that knows all too well tragedies of death and near death events,” he added.