[Discussion] Two Navy Growlers Collide at Idaho Air Show, Four Aviators Eject Safely

Mid-air collision during Idaho air show

Four naval aviators ejected safely after two U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growlers collided during an aerial demonstration at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, a spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, said all four crewmembers were recovered after ejecting and were being evaluated by medical personnel. First responders were sent to the scene following the accident.

The aircraft were part of the Navy’s E/A-18G Growler Demonstration Team performing at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show. Each E/A-18G carries two aircrew: a pilot and an electronic warfare officer.

Timeline and location of the crash

According to the Navy, the collision occurred at about 12:10 p.m. involving two E/A-18Gs assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 129, or VAQ-129, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

A spokesperson for Mountain Home Air Force Base told Task & Purpose the crash occurred roughly two miles northwest of the installation during the demonstration. Witness images and local media footage showed smoke rising near the crash area after impact.

The Idaho Statesman reported that an air show announcer told the crowd, “We had four good parachutes. The crews were able to eject.”

Footage shows rapid ejection sequence

A video circulated on social media appeared to show the two Growlers flying in close formation before making contact. In the footage, the aircraft seem to remain entangled briefly, pitching upward before both crews eject.

The ejections appear to take place within seconds of the initial collision. The unmanned aircraft then descend together and crash, followed by a fireball on impact. Separate photos and videos showed four parachutes descending near the crash site.

Task & Purpose reported that images posted by KBTV and footage shared on the Amn/nco/snco Facebook page captured the sequence from collision through impact.

Aircraft and unit background

The E/A-18G Growler is the Navy’s carrier-capable electronic attack aircraft, derived from the F/A-18 family. It is equipped for missions that include detecting, disrupting, and targeting enemy radar and other electronic systems.

VAQ-129, the squadron involved in the incident, serves as the fleet replacement squadron for the Growler community. Like most Navy Growler units, it is based at NAS Whidbey Island, which also hosts initial training for pilots and naval flight officers assigned to the platform.

A separate Whidbey Island-based E/A-18G crashed during a training flight near Mount Rainier in 2024.

Air show context

The aircraft were participating in the two-day Gunfighter Skies Air Show, which featured military demonstration teams and vintage aircraft. According to reporting cited by Task & Purpose, this year’s event marked the first Gunfighter Skies show held in eight years.

KTVB also published an interview with Navy Lt. Kevin Lynch, identified as a member of the demonstration team, that appeared to have been recorded before the accident.

The base has previously seen a fatal air show accident: a hang glider performer died during a 2018 crash. No fatalities were reported in the Growler collision, and all four naval aviators survived the incident.

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