Navy EA-18G Growlers Collide During Air Show; All Four Crew Safe

Navy EA-18G Growlers Collide During Air Show; All Four Crew Safe

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — Two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers from the demonstration team collided mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base on Sunday. All four crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition at local medical facilities.

The crash involved aircraft from VAQ-129 "Vikings" squadron — EA-18G BuNo 168895 (modex "NJ-502") and EA-18G BuNo 168252 (modex "NJ-540"). Video footage shows the aircraft performing close formation when they converged and became physically locked together. The combined mass pitched up, stalled and cartwheeled to the ground approximately 2 miles northwest of the base perimeter in an unpopulated area.

The air show was immediately suspended following the collision. A formal Navy investigation is underway, focusing on formation geometry, airspeed settings and potential wake turbulence effects. Video analysis suggests the crews waited approximately five seconds after impact to assess controllability before ejecting, highlighting both the risks of demonstration flying and the professionalism of military aviators.