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US Navy Jets Collide and Explode on Impact
Washington: A dramatic mid-air collision between two US Navy fighter jets during an air show in Idaho shocked spectators on Sunday, with videos of the crash quickly spreading online. Officials confirmed that all four crew members aboard the aircraft safely ejected moments before the jets crashed and burst into flames near Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho.
The accident involved two EA-18G Growler aircraft from the US Navy’s Electronic Attack Squadron 129. The jets were taking part in an aerial demonstration at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show when the collision occurred.
Several videos recorded by spectators captured the terrifying moment the aircraft appeared to make contact in mid-air. The fighter jets were then seen spinning downward together before crashing near the military base, located around 50 miles southeast of Boise.
The footage also showed four parachutes opening in the sky as the crew members successfully ejected from the aircraft seconds before impact. Moments later, the jets exploded into a massive fireball after hitting the ground.
Witness Shane Ogden, who was filming the performance, said he initially believed the aircraft would separate safely. Instead, the planes appeared to collide and fall together while the crew members drifted to safety nearby.
Following the crash, Mountain Home Air Force Base was immediately placed under lockdown as emergency crews responded to the scene. Officials later announced the cancellation of the remaining events at the popular air show.
Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, US Pacific Fleet, confirmed that the crash happened during a scheduled aerial display. Authorities stated that no spectators or military personnel on the ground were injured in the incident.
Kim Sykes of Silver Wings of Idaho, one of the event organisers, said the safe ejection of all crew members was the most important outcome following the accident.
The EA-18G Growler is a specialised electronic warfare aircraft derived from the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet and is widely used by the US Navy for advanced combat support missions.
Weather officials reported clear visibility during the air show, although wind gusts reportedly reached nearly 29 mph at the time of the incident. Aviation authorities are expected to launch a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the mid-air collision.
