Military Plane Crashes in California Waters

A U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler aircraft crashed into the waters of San Diego Bay, California, on Wednesday morning near Shelter Island. Both crew members successfully ejected before the impact and were rescued, according to officials. The incident took place shortly before 10:30 a.m. in the vicinity of 1401 Shelter Island Drive.

A dramatic video, captured by a camera installed in San Diego Bay, recorded the exact moment the aircraft plunged into the sea and sank. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) reported that the aircraft had taken off from Naval Air Station North Island, a naval operations base located close to the crash site.

After ejecting, the two pilots descended into the water with their parachutes and were initially rescued by the fishing vessel Premier Sportfishing, which was navigating the area at that moment. They were then transferred to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) boat, where they received initial care. Subsequently, they were taken to UC San Diego Health hospital, where their condition was reported as stable.

An internet live camera monitoring San Diego harbor traffic captured audio of someone on board the Premier alerting the Coast Guard: "We are on our way to assist," a man was heard saying at 10:14 a.m. Minutes later, another member of the fishing boat crew confirmed, "We have both pilots on board and safe."

Frank Ursitti, General Manager of H&M Landing, the company that owns the sportfishing boat, praised the swift response of his crew: "We are relieved and thankful that one of our boats was in the right place at the right time. Captain Brandon Viets and the Premier crew acted swiftly, and thanks to their professionalism, they were able to secure the pilots' safety."

Ongoing Investigation

As of now, the U.S. Navy has not provided specifics on the cause of the crash. The Coast Guard has deployed two vessels to secure the Growler wreckage in San Diego harbor as investigations continue.

This particular aircraft model, the E/A-18G Growler, is a twin-seat jet specialized in electronic warfare. It is a modified version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet and is primarily used to disrupt enemy radar and communication systems during combat operations.

Recent Aviation Accidents in the U.S.

This event is part of a series of recent aviation accidents in the United States, involving both military and civilian aircraft:

• On January 29, a commercial plane and an army helicopter collided near the capital, resulting in 67 fatalities.
• On January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, claiming the lives of six people on board and another on the ground.
• Last week, a small passenger plane crashed in Alaska, resulting in ten fatalities.
• On February 10, a tragic afternoon accident at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona left one dead and several injured when a private plane collided with another aircraft parked on the runway.