ISLAMABAD, May 18: Four crew members survived after ejecting from two US Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft that collided mid-air during an airshow in the US state of Idaho, officials said.
The collision happened during an aerial demonstration at the Gunfighters Air Show near Mountain Home Air Force Base on Sunday. The incident drew emergency responders to the crash site and led to a lockdown at the nearby airbase as authorities opened an investigation.
The US Navy said all four crew members were safe after ejecting from the aircraft. Officials have not yet confirmed the extent of damage to the jets or whether anyone on the ground was affected.
The EA-18G Growler is a US Navy electronic warfare aircraft used to disrupt enemy radar and communications. The aircraft were taking part in the airshow when they collided, according to local media reports.
What happened at the Idaho airshow?
Two EA-18G Growler jets collided during a demonstration at the Gunfighters Air Show, a public aviation event held near Mountain Home Air Force Base.
The crash prompted an emergency response and a temporary lockdown at the base, which is located close to the airshow site.
Why the incident drew attention
The Gunfighters Air Show had returned after a pause linked to a fatal civilian glider crash in 2018. Local media reported that Sunday’s collision was the third major incident associated with the airshow in 23 years.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the mid-air collision.
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