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Two Navy Growlers Collide at Idaho Base, Crew Eject Safely

5/19/2026

Summary

Navy Jet Collision

U.S. Navy lost two Growler jets in a collision at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, on May 18, 2026.
Four Electronic Attack Squadron 129 crew members ejected safely, with one suffering non-life-threatening injuries while three were cleared medically.
A Naval Air Forces spokesperson said the crash is under investigation and recovery began.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said the incident likely stemmed from pilot error, not a mechanical fault.

Summary

Growlers Crash

A crash destroyed two EA-18G Growlers, each costing $67 million, eliminating roughly $134 million in assets.
Boeing stopped producing Growlers years ago, leaving Electronic Attack Squadron 129 with only 55 irreplaceable platforms.
Col. Dan Cornelius said current constraints forced postponement or cancellation of several military air shows, including Utah’s Hill Air Force Base event.
Safety officials noted the mid-air collision let both crews eject, a rare outcome that may aid the investigation.

Summary

Navy Jet Crash

The crash forced closure of Grand View Highway (167) between South Simco Road and State Highway 67, barring access while investigators work.
Mountain Home Air Force Base locked down the installation, keeping attendees on-site until the scene was secured.
Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, Naval Air Forces spokesperson, confirmed the investigation is ongoing and aircraft recovery has begun.
Air St. Luke’s, a rapid-response group, praised responders’ professionalism and thanked them for all crew surviving.

Summary

Growler Crash

An EA-18G Growler, a Super Hornet-based aircraft with an electronic-warfare suite, collided, causing a crash.
The National Weather Service recorded clear visibility and wind gusts up to 29 mph (47 kph) at the time.
Base officials locked down the installation and held spectators on-site until secured, a measure not used since the 2018 hang-glider fatality.
Witnesses and video captured a thick black-smoke column rising from the impact site after the jets ignited.

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Navy Jet Collision

U.S. Navy lost two Growler jets in a collision at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, on May 18, 2026.
Four Electronic Attack Squadron 129 crew members ejected safely, with one suffering non-life-threatening injuries while three were cleared medically.
A Naval Air Forces spokesperson said the crash is under investigation and recovery began.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said the incident likely stemmed from pilot error, not a mechanical fault.

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