On Sunday, during an air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, two fighter jets collided in midair and crashed. Thankfully, all four crew members ejected safely and are reported to be in stable condition, according to U.S. Naval Air Forces officials.
Kim Sykes, marketing director with Silver Wings of Idaho, emphasized the importance of safety, stating, “Everyone is safe and I think that’s the most important thing,” as CBS affiliate KBOI reported.
The Mountain Home Air Force Base announced on social media that it entered lockdown after the incident at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show. The rest of the show was subsequently canceled. Emergency responders attended the scene, and an investigation is ongoing.
Videos posted online showed the two planes entangled in midair, followed by four parachutes opening as the planes fell and exploded upon impact.
Witness Shane Odgen captured a still image showing the crew ejecting from the jets after the collision.
The EA-18G Growlers involved were part of Electronic Attack Squadron 129 from Whidbey Island, Washington. Each unit has a price tag of around $67 million, according to the U.S. Navy.
The jets were at a low altitude and moving at slower speeds when they collided, as explained by Dave Berke, a former pilot and Top Gun instructor, to CBS News. Berke added, “The margin for error in this ejection was incredibly small,” and noted the role of luck in ensuring the crew’s safety.
This popular air show is designed to celebrate aviation history and highlight modern military capabilities. It includes flying demonstrations and parachute jumps. The U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds, its flight demonstration squadron, were set to be the event’s headliners.
