February 13th 2025.
In a surprising and unfortunate turn of events, a US military fighter jet worth $67 million crashed into the San Diego Bay at high speed. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning around 10:15am, when the E/A-18G Growler plunged nose first into the water, creating a massive splash that could be seen from the nearby land. Fortunately, both aviators on board were able to eject before the crash and were rescued by a Premier Sportsfishing boat. They were then taken to a Customs and Border Protection Craft, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Christopher Sappey.
According to reports, the jet was performing a 'g-around maneuver', which involves taking off after landing. The Premier crew, who were monitoring the harbor through a live webcam, immediately notified the Coast Guard that the pilots had safely ejected. "We're on our way to help assist," said one of the crew members at around 10:14am. "They're in the water." Just moments after the Premier reached the aviators, the jet crashed into the water roughly 1,000 feet away. Premier captain Brandon Viets described the scene as "crazy", but noted that the aviators remained surprisingly calm considering what had just happened.
The Coast Guard and US Navy boats quickly arrived at the scene to work along the shore near Shelter Island. In an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune, Viets praised the aviators for their composure during the incident. "Their composure was very impressive," he said. "They seemed very calm for what had just happened." Both aviators were taken to a nearby hospital and are reported to be in stable condition, according to US Navy officials. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
The E/A-18G Growler, a two-seater aircraft, is known as "the first newly-designed electronic warfare aircraft produced in more than 35 years", according to the US Navy's website. With a price tag of $67 million, it is a valuable asset to the military. This unfortunate crash comes exactly two weeks after a Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet and both fell into the Potomac River in Washington, DC, resulting in the death of all 67 people on board both aircrafts. The military chopper was on an annual proficiency training flight at the time of the collision on January 29. Two days later, an air ambulance plane crashed onto a residential street in Philadelphia, killing three out of the six people on board.
As of now, the cause of the crash remains unknown and is being investigated. Our thoughts are with the aviators and their families, as well as the military personnel involved in the rescue and investigation efforts. Let us hope for a thorough and speedy resolution to this tragic incident.
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