A dramatic aircraft incident unfolded near Naval Air Station North Island when a military plane plunged into the waters of San Diego Bay.
According to Fox News, a Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic-warfare aircraft crashed into San Diego Bay on Wednesday morning, leading to the swift rescue of two Navy pilots by a nearby fishing vessel.
The incident occurred around 10:16 a.m. local time near Shelter Island, prompting an immediate response from multiple emergency services. Both pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft before impact and were quickly retrieved from the water by the crew of a fishing boat named Premier, operated by H&M Landing.
Fishing crew springs into action during military aircraft emergency
The Premier's crew demonstrated remarkable quick thinking and professionalism during the rescue operation. Captain Brandon Viets and his team spotted the pilots ejecting and immediately steered their vessel toward them, reaching the service members before they had spent more than a minute in the water.
H&M Landing general manager Frank Ursitti praised his crew's swift response to the emergency. The fishing company later revealed that the aircraft had experienced mechanical failure moments before the pilots ejected.
The Coast Guard confirmed that after the initial rescue by the fishing vessel, the pilots were transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine Operations for further assistance.
Massive emergency response mobilizes after San Diego crash
The San Diego Fire Department dispatched an impressive array of emergency resources to handle the situation. Their response included two fire trucks, a specialized foam truck, five engines, a helicopter, two boats, and a lifeguard river team, totaling 60 personnel at the scene.
Both pilots were transported to a local hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition. Navy officials have not yet released the identities of the pilots or confirmed whether any distress signals were transmitted before the crash.
The wreckage of the $67 million aircraft remains submerged in the bay as investigations continue. The Boeing EA-18G Growler serves as an advanced airborne electronic attack aircraft, providing tactical jamming and electronic protection to U.S. military forces and allies worldwide.
Recent aviation incidents raise safety concerns nationwide
This crash adds to a series of recent aviation accidents across the United States. The incident follows a tragic collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial passenger plane near Reagan National Airport on January 29, which resulted in 67 fatalities.
The string of accidents continued with a medical ambulance plane crash in Philadelphia that claimed seven lives, including a person on the ground. The aircraft had been transporting a young patient who had just received life-saving treatment.
Most recently, a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil was involved in a fatal crash at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona on Monday afternoon.
What happens next in military aircraft investigation
The Boeing EA-18G Growler incident in San Diego Bay resulted in a successful rescue operation thanks to the quick response of a local fishing vessel crew and emergency services. The crash occurred Wednesday morning near Naval Air Station North Island, with both pilots ejecting safely before impact. As the wreckage remains in the water, Navy officials and local authorities continue their investigation to determine the cause of the mechanical failure that led to the crash of the $67 million electronic warfare aircraft.
