Four crew members ejected successfully after two Navy planes collided and crashed during an air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The incident involved U.S. Navy EA18-G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 129, based in Whidbey Island, Washington. Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, provided this information in a statement.
The crash occurred during a performance, and all crew members ejected safely. They were reported to be in stable condition, according to base officials. Kim Sykes, marketing director with Silver Wings of Idaho, stated, “Everyone is safe and I think that’s the most important thing.” The base confirmed in a social media update that it was secured immediately after the crash, and the rest of the air show was canceled.
Observers shared videos online showing four parachutes opening in the sky as the planes crashed near the base, 50 miles south of Boise. The EA-18G Growler is a version of the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet and carries sophisticated electronic warfare systems, with each unit costing approximately $67 million.
Shane Ogden, present at the event, filmed the jets as they appeared to collide, capturing the moment the crew ejected and parachutes deployed. The planes exploded upon impact with the ground, near where the crew members descended safely. Ogden mentioned he left shortly thereafter to avoid interfering with emergency personnel.
The air show, known for flying displays and parachute jumps, celebrated aviation history and showcased modern military capabilities, featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron.
The National Weather Service noted good visibility and winds gusting up to 29 mph during the crash. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti remarked on the rarity of both crews successfully ejecting from a midair collision. He suggested that the manner of the collision, where aircraft remained attached before falling, might have enabled the safe ejection.
John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, emphasized the skill required for air shows due to minimal error margins. He noted, “Air show flying is demanding. It has very little tolerance… I’m glad everybody was able to get out.”
The Gunfighter Skies event returned this year, having last been held in 2018 when a hang glider pilot died in a crash during an air show. In 2003, a Thunderbirds aircraft crashed while attempting a maneuver, with the pilot ejecting moments before impact.
Efforts have been ongoing to enhance safety at approximately 200 annual air shows across the U.S. John Cudahy, president of the International Council of Air Shows, shared improvements in safety statistics: from an average of 3.8 deaths per year (1991-2006), to 1.1 since 2017. The most recent deadly collision in Dallas, 2022, involved vintage planes.
No air show deaths occurred in 2025 or 2023, and the last spectator fatality at a U.S. air show was in 1952. Cudahy noted, “Safety wise we’ve enjoyed really an unprecedented term of few accidents.”
With both crews surviving, investigators may swiftly deduce the crash cause from firsthand accounts. The Navy will spearhead the investigation, suggesting limited public information compared to civilian incidents. Some air shows were canceled this year due to military deployment amid the Iran conflict.
Originally published on May 17, 2026, and updated May 18, 2026, for crash history details. Prior fatalities occurred separately in 2024. There were none in 2023 and 2025.
Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Contributions from AP writers Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles.