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NAVY JET CRASHES NEAR MOUNT RAINIER, CREW MEMBERS MISSING
A US Navy EA-18G Growler jet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state during a routine training flight, leaving two crew members missing and prompting an ongoing search and investigation.
GULF OF OMAN, AT SEA 03.06.2014 Photo by Adam Brock Defense Imagery Management Operations Center
A US Navy electronic attack jet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state on Tuesday, sparking a search for two missing crew members. The EA-18G Growler aircraft was conducting a routine training flight when it went down.
The cause of the crash remains unknown and is under investigation, according to Navy officials. As of 7 pm on October 15, the status of the two crew members remains unknown.
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A Navy MH-60S helicopter was launched from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to aid in the search efforts. The search area spans over 40 miles from north to south.
The Electronic Attack Squadron 130, to which the aircraft belonged, is based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and is the oldest electronic warfare squadron in the Navy.
The squadron recently returned to Washington in July after completing a nine-month deployment with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea. During this deployment, the squadron conducted seven pre-planned strikes into Houthi-controlled Yemen and executed nearly 700 combat missions.
The incident highlights the risks faced by military personnel during training exercises. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and the search for the missing crew members continues.
