Four crew members survive after two U.S. Navy fighter jets crash mid-air during air show in Idaho
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (NBC, KYMA) - Two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler jets assigned to Whidbey Island's Electronic Attack Squadron 129 crashed mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho over the weekend.
One expert said it's miracle that all four crew members survived, and said we should "not rush to judgement" concerning the cause of the crash.
Video captured shows the moment two Navy aircraft crash during an air show demonstration.
The two EA-18G Growlers are intertwined. Then, a flash, smoke and debris begin falling.
Seconds later, four parachutes open, and moments after that the aircraft crash to the ground causing an explosion.
"Out of the corner of my eye I saw a big flash and I look over and immediately I see four parachutes," said one witness.
The crash happened just after noon Sunday at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.
"Once I saw the black smoke and I knew that there was something, something was wrong," the witness shared.
A U.S. Navy spokesperson confirms the two Growlers crashed while performing at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show.
Both aircraft were assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 129 from Whidbey Island.
Four aviators were involved, and the Navy says all of them successfully ejected and are being evaluated by medical personnel.
"That is a miracle when particularly jet airplanes come together it's usually not a very good outcome, so that's a good outcome for today," said Cary Grant, Assistant Professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle University and former Air Force instructor. "When you are in a formation, you have your lead and you have your wingman, and it's always the wingman's job to make sure that you keep your lead in sight at all times."
Grant says from what he can see in the video, the aircraft appear to come together one above the other.
"In order for those airplanes to come together like they did, one on top of the other, the wingman probably lost sight of his lead," Grant reasoned.
Grant says the investigation will look far beyond the video.
"When we start investigations, we find out that most accidents are not a single cause," Grant expressed.
