Carson Neuhausen | News Editor
May 26, 2026
On May 17th, 2026, two EA-18G “Growler” fighter jets collided midair during an aerial demonstration. This marked one of the most significant and dramatic military aviation mishaps of the 21st century. The crash occurred while the aircraft was performing for thousands of spectators attending the Gunfighter Skies Airshow at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
Both jets were a part of the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (also known as the “Vikings”) based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington. The Growler is a variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and is used to disrupt enemy radar systems and communications during large-scale combat operations. Each aircraft carries two crew members: a pilot and an electronic warfare officer (EWO).
Footage captured by spectators showed the Growlers collide during one of their many aerial maneuvers. The jets were pulling into a double roll when one of the aircraft came over the top of the other with far too much speed. The pilot pitched up to slow the aircraft, but it was too late. What came next was a series of extremely lucky events that saved 4 lives. The jets’ fuselages locked together, preventing any explosions or dangerous fragmentation. The conjoined aircraft then pitched up to a near-vertical angle, resulting in a stall. This caused both planes to invert, allowing all four crew members to eject safely. Moments after the ejection, the aircraft violently pitched down and crashed into the ground roughly two miles from the base, creating a massive fireball and sending a distinct black smoke into the air. Julian Duzman, a junior at SCHS, said, “The crash looked so weird. I thought that when both jets hit each other, they would explode.”
Emergency responders immediately rushed to the scene alongside a few local spectators. The show was immediately canceled, and roads were closed while firefighters and investigators secured the crash site. All four crew members were found unharmed (one pilot received minor injuries), but in shock. Due to the advanced nature of the Growler ejection seats, the aviators were able to eject at extremely low altitudes without any back injuries despite the 12-20 G-forces exerted on them. John McClenahan, a senior at SCHS, said that he was “impressed at the pilot’s ability to stay calm and eject at the right time”.
This incident drew national attention due to its monetary implications and unusual nature. The EA-18G is one of the Navy’s most sophisticated aircraft, estimated to cost over $65,000,000. In addition, Boeing no longer manufactures the Growler, making the loss significant for the US military’s electronic warfare fleet.
Although the crewmembers survived, this crash serves as a reminder of the risks military aviators face, even if they aren’t deployed. Air shows are designed to showcase our military, and its pilots’ capabilities and skills, but the extremely fine margin for error during high-speed maneuvers means that a single mistake can lead to grave consequences.
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