EF-18 crash
Date: Tuesday 15 October 2024
Time: c. 15:20 LT
Type: Silhouette image of generic F18S model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing EA-18G Growler
Owner/operator: US Navy
Registration:
MSN:
Fatalities: Fatalities: / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location: Mountainside E of Mount Rainier, WA - United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
A US Navy Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, operated by Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 "Zappers", crashed "on a mountainside" east of Mount Rainier, Washington.
On the 16th of October around 12:30pm PDT the crash site was located, SAR teams examined the site and looked for the crew. The status of the two crewmembers remains unknown.
Rescue operations are still being conducted. It is unclear the extent of the damage to the aircraft, but it is assumed that the aircraft has been destroyed.
Sources:
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3937598/update-search-continues-for-vaq-130-aviators/
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3937425/search-continues-for-vaq-130-aviators/
https://news.usni.org/2024/10/15/growler-crew-members-status-unknown-after-crash
https://www.newsweek.com/us-navy-growler-aircraft-crashes-two-crew-board-mount-rainier-washington-1969714
https://abcnews.go.com/US/navy-jet-crashes-mount-rainier-2-crew-members/story?id=114842839
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/navy-aircraft-with-2-aboard-crashes-east-of-mount-rainier/3410333/
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2024-10-16/navy-growler-crash-mount-rainier-15522848.html
https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/453687