Screenshot from video
All four U.S. Navy aircrew members involved in a dramatic midair collision between two E/A-18G Growler jets over Idaho survived after ejecting seconds before the aircraft crashed, an outcome veteran fighter pilots are describing as extraordinarily rare.
The collision happened during a demonstration flight at Mountain Home Air Force Base, where two Growlers from the Navy’s demonstration team appeared to become physically lodged together midair before spiraling out of control. All four aviators successfully ejected and parachuted safely to the ground, with only one crew member sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, according to Task & Purpose.
Retired military pilots who reviewed footage of the incident said the survival of every crew member was remarkable given the speed, aircraft positioning, and limited reaction time involved. Particularly notable was the successful escape of the crew in the lower jet, whose cockpit appeared partially trapped beneath the aircraft above it during the collision sequence.
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a specialized electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and carries two crew members: a pilot and an Electronic Warfare Officer. The aircraft is designed for missions involving radar jamming, electronic attack, and suppression of enemy air defenses.
Former Navy and Air Force pilots described the ejections as a near-perfect chain of events in an inherently dangerous situation. Fighter jet ejections already involve extreme forces, split-second timing, and precise aircraft orientation. In this case, four separate ejection seats deployed while two damaged aircraft were tumbling through the air in close proximity.
Experts say the timing may have been critical. Video footage appears to show the two cockpits briefly separating as the aircraft rotated, potentially creating just enough clearance for the lower crew to eject safely. Former pilots suggested the incident will likely become a future case study in aviation safety and emergency procedure training.
Midair aircraft entanglements during formation flying are rare but not unprecedented. Similar Air Force training accidents involving T-38 jets in 2019 and 2021 resulted in fatalities after aircraft drifted into overlapping positions during landing exercises. Those incidents prompted reviews and changes to formation training procedures.
The crash also underscores the risks involved in military air demonstrations, where aircraft often fly in extremely tight formations designed to showcase precision flying capabilities. Formal investigations into the cause of the Idaho collision are now underway, and Navy officials have not yet commented on what may have triggered the mishap.
