Navy EA-18G Growlers Collide at Mountain Home Air Show; Crews Eject Safely

Two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers collided mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base on May 17, 2026. The incident occurred at approximately 12:10 p.m. local time during an aerial demonstration when a formation rejoin maneuver failed. All four crew members — a pilot and electronic warfare officer in each aircraft — ejected successfully.

Local reports confirm all crew survived, with three released and one remaining hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The base immediately halted the air show for the remainder of Sunday following the collision. Initial emergency response efforts addressed a brush fire ignited by wreckage, which was quickly contained by base and county firefighting units.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet confirmed the accident occurred during a formation maneuver and announced an official mishap investigation is underway. Aviation experts suggest the collision may have resulted from formation geometry errors, including potential loss of visual contact by the trailing aircraft. The incident marks a significant event for the base, which is now under review by naval authorities to assess potential changes to demonstration flight safety procedures.