Navy Growlers Collide During Idaho Air Show, All Four Crew Members Eject Safely
MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — Four U.S. Navy crew members safely ejected Sunday after two EA-18G Growler jets collided during an aerial demonstration at Mountain Home Air Force Base, prompting a lockdown, emergency response and the cancellation of the remainder of the Gunfighter Skies Air Show.
The Navy confirmed that both aircraft were assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 129, based at Whidbey Island, Washington, and were participating in the air show when the crash occurred. According to Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, all four aircrew members successfully ejected and were being evaluated by medical personnel after the incident.
The collision happened around midday during the second day of the event, about two miles northwest of the base, according to officials and local reports. Witnesses described a sudden and dramatic scene in the sky as the aircraft appeared to make contact and then tumble together toward the ground. Video posted online by spectators showed four parachutes deploying almost immediately after the collision, followed by the jets descending in a fireball.
The base was placed on lockdown shortly after the crash, and emergency personnel rushed to the scene. Organizers canceled the rest of the air show as investigators began working to determine what caused the midair collision.
In a statement, Naval Air Forces said the incident involved two EA-18G Growlers from VAQ-129, a training squadron that also supports the Navy’s electronic warfare operations. Each aircraft carries two crew members: a pilot and an electronic warfare officer. The Growler is a variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet designed to jam enemy communications and radar systems.
Social media videos and witness accounts quickly spread after the crash, showing the aircraft flying in close formation before appearing to lock together in the air. The jets then pitched and spun downward as the crew members ejected. Observers at the air show described the parachutes as a relief amid what had looked like a catastrophic accident.
“We had four good parachutes,” an announcer told the crowd, according to reports from the scene.
The crash stunned spectators and briefly shut down one of the region’s best-known aviation events. Mountain Home Air Force Base sits roughly 50 miles south of Boise and regularly hosts military training and public air show demonstrations. The Gunfighter Skies event has drawn large crowds in the past and is considered a signature showcase for military aviation in Idaho.
Officials did not immediately release information on the condition of the aircrew beyond confirming they had been rescued and were undergoing medical checks. The Navy said the cause of the collision remained under investigation.
Air show accidents, while rare, often raise immediate questions about formation flying, timing, pilot situational awareness and aircraft spacing. Military demonstration teams fly with narrow margins and rely on precision maneuvers performed at close proximity, making any loss of separation potentially dangerous.
The EA-18G Growler has been a critical platform for the Navy since its introduction, serving as one of the military’s primary airborne electronic attack aircraft. The aircraft’s role in suppressing enemy air defenses makes it a highly specialized asset, and VAQ-129 serves as a training unit for crews learning to operate the platform.
Sunday’s collision is likely to prompt a detailed investigation by Navy and possibly other military aviation authorities. Investigators will typically examine video, maintenance records, weather conditions, pilot communications, flight paths and air show procedures to determine what led to the accident.
For spectators, the dramatic scene unfolded in seconds. What began as a routine aviation display ended with wreckage on the ground, a plume of smoke and four parachutes drifting safely toward earth. The rapid ejection and survival of all four crew members prevented what could have been a far more serious outcome.
Officials said more details would be released as the inquiry progresses.