A US Navy EA-18G Growler crashed east of Mount Rainier in the US state of Washington and a search is still underway for the two missing crew members, the US Navy confirmed in a statement.
The aircraft, part of the Navy’s oldest electronic warfare squadron, the “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, went down during a routine training flight at approximately 15:20 local time. It was operating out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI), located north of Seattle, when the incident occurred.
A US Navy MH-60S helicopter dispatched from NASWI is supporting search efforts. Additional search and rescue assets have also been deployed to examine the crash site. The US Navy said the status of the crew members remains unknown. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash.
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based twin-seat electronic warfare aircraft developed by Boeing for the US Navy. A variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the Growler specializes in electronic attack capabilities, including jamming enemy radar and communications systems. This makes it a crucial asset for disrupting adversary defenses and providing support for strike missions.