Aircrew safely eject before Growler crash, recovery efforts continue

VAQ-135, the “Black Ravens,” is an expeditionary squadron that is based at NAS Whidbey

Two aircrew members who safely ejected from a Navy EA-18G Growler before it crashed into San Diego Bay Wednesday remain in good health after a 24-hour medical observation period, according to a press release from the Navy.

The Growler was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135, the “Black Ravens,” an expeditionary squadron that is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Boeing-made jet was executing a “go around” maneuver, which is when an aircraft aborts its landing and takes off again. The crew members ejected due to an unknown problem and parachuted down into the bay near Shelter Island, where a fishing boat picked them up, according to the newspaper.

There were no reports of any civilian injuries or damage.

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The aircraft went down at approximately 10:15 a.m. Video footage captured the moment when the jet, descending at a steep angle, plunged nose-first into the water at high speed, sending up a giant plume of water.

Recovery of the aircraft was hampered by a winter storm, newspapers in San Diego reported. The Navy reported that the crash site was identified in the the waters off Naval Air Station North Island, but the aircraft remains submerged. Containment booms were placed around the crash site to minimize the spread of fuel and debris.

The Navy said the cause of the crash is under investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available.

The aircraft was in San Diego as part of the Bamboo Eagle integrated training exercise and was operating out of North Island, according to MSN.

The incident is the second Growler crash in four months. On Oct. 15, two crew members were killed when their aircraft crashed near Mount Rainier. The cause of that accident is also under investigation.

Also on Wednesday, the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier collided with a merchant ship in the Mediterranean off the coast of Egypt. The Navy reported that the collision did not cause any injuries, flooding or damage to the nuclear propulsion system. Growler aircraft are part of the USS Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group.