U.S. Navy Search for Crew Resumes After EA-18G Crash Near Mount Rainier

A temporary flight restriction was put in place over the search area from the surface to 10,000 feet to protect the aircraft participating in the efforts.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 12:33 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

The EA-18G Growler, a variant in the F/A-18 family. [Courtesy: U.S. Navy]

Key Takeaways:

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler fighter jet crashed east of Mount Rainier in Washington state on Tuesday during a routine training flight.
Two U.S. Navy pilots are missing following the crash, and their status remains unknown.
Search efforts for the missing pilots resumed Wednesday, but are challenged by adverse weather conditions in the area.
The aircraft was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130) from NAS Whidbey Island, and the cause of the crash is under investigation.

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A search for two missing U.S. Navy pilots resumed in Washington state Wednesday hours after a EA-18G Growler crashed east of Mount Rainier.

The fighter jet was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers,” based out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island north of Seattle.