Navy Jet Goes Down Near Shelter Island
A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler fighter jet crashed into the San Diego Bay near Shelter Island on Wednesday morning. The aircraft, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, had two service members on board. Both ejected before impact and were rescued.
San Diego Fire-Rescue received reports of the crash at approximately 10:15 a.m. A nearby charter fishing boat, operated by H & M Landing, reached the pilots first and pulled them from the water. The captain of the vessel Premier, who witnessed the crash, acted swiftly.
“As all of our crews are trained in lifesaving efforts, we turned around and picked up both pilots,” said Frank Ursitti, General Manager of H & M Landing. “As they were boarding, the captain observed the aircraft ditch into the bay.”
Emergency responders transferred the pilots to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat, which brought them ashore. They were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center. Their injuries were not disclosed, but military officials confirmed they were stable.
Investigation Underway
Naval Base Coronado established an emergency operations center to investigate the cause of the crash. The Navy located the aircraft wreckage underwater and deployed Harbor Security boats to contain any environmental impact.
Navy officials provided an update at 6 p.m., stating both aviators were in good condition but would be monitored for 24 hours as a precaution. Officials also warned the public not to approach or collect any debris from the crash site.
“Anyone who encounters suspected aircraft debris should report it to local authorities or call Naval Base Coronado,” a Navy spokesperson said.
While the exact cause remains unclear, the investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as necessary.
Eyewitnesses Describe Terrifying Moments
Heather Ault and her husband Brian, residents of Point Loma, witnessed the crash from their home. Brian managed to capture the moment on his phone.
“It was terrifying,” Heather said. “I saw the underside of the plane as it nose-dived straight into the water.”
She described the sound of the descending aircraft as deafening, shaking their home and startling their dogs.
Heather, familiar with the usual flight paths from North Island Naval Base, noticed the jet took an unusual turn. Instead of banking left over the ocean, it turned right, seemingly heading back toward base.
“I was devastated,” she said. “I have friends with kids in the military. I’m a mom of 20-somethings. This just breaks my heart.”
Experts Weigh In on Possible Causes
Retired Marine Corps pilot Ron Alvarado shared his perspective on the incident. He suggested the jet’s trajectory over the bay might indicate that the aircraft was in a turn before it lost control.
“The aircraft does have a flight control system, so it could have flown until it lost lift or crashed due to the last control inputs made by the pilot,” Alvarado explained. He also noted that the crew may have intentionally steered the jet away from populated areas to minimize damage on the ground.
Jim Kidrick, CEO of the San Diego Air and Space Museum and a retired Navy commander, emphasized the importance of investigating pilot training and mission preparedness.
“First question is, was that aircrew trained for that mission?” Kidrick said. “Skillsets and performance play a huge role. Our goal is to prevent these incidents from happening.”
Kidrick expressed relief that both pilots survived.
“This had a pretty good ending,” he said. “They’ll likely live to fly another day.”
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