E/A-18G Growler jet crashed in San Diego Bay; both pilots ejected and are stable. Investigation underway.
The plane was an E/A-18G Growler jet. It fell from the sky and hit the cold water. The crash happened around 10:17 a.m.
A huge cloud of smoke went into the air, and a witness described a large explosion upon impact. Afterward, the smoke disappeared quickly into the water.
The two pilots ejected from the jet safely. A fishing boat picked them up from the water, then they transferred to a Customs and Border Protection boat. A Coast Guard officer provided this information.
The plane crashed during a “go-around maneuver,” where it landed and then tried to take off again. A Navy spokesperson explained this maneuver.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. Someone on the fishing boat called the Coast Guard to report the crew ejected after takeoff.
The caller said they were going to assist the pilots. Shortly after, they reported both pilots were safe onboard. The fishing boat captain heard a loud jet and saw two people falling with parachutes.
He immediately turned his boat towards them. The jet stayed airborne before crashing and then dove into the water. The captain saw a tall plume of water and debris when it crashed.
The landing boss praised the crew’s quick actions, stating their actions saved the pilots. Authorities transported both men to a hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
The Coast Guard secured the wreckage within San Diego harbor. The Growler jet is used for electronic warfare. A similar Navy jet crashed last October in Washington state.
Both crew members died in that Washington incident, and the wreckage was located in remote mountains.