A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler crashed into San Diego Bay on Wednesday morning, with both pilots ejecting safely before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, officials confirmed. The aircraft, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135 based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington, went down at approximately 10:15 a.m. near Point Loma, just outside Naval Air Station North Island.
Dramatic video footage captured the jet nose diving into the water, followed by a swift emergency response. A charter fishing boat in the area initially spotted the pilots ejecting and assisted in the rescue before they were transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and later taken to UC San Diego Health for evaluation. The Navy reported that both crew members are in stable condition and under 24-hour medical observation as a precaution.
NAVY: More struggles for the Navy as an EA-18 Growler — a variant of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet — assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA crashed into San Diego Bay. Pilots ejected safely. pic.twitter.com/vWftNRgu7H
— @amuse (@amuse) February 14, 2025
🚨 Caught on Camera: U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler Crashes into San Diego Bay 🚨
A Navy EA-18G Growler crashed near NAS North Island during a landing attempt. Both pilots ejected safely & were rescued. The cause is under investigation. Happened at 10:15 AM
📹crew eject before impact pic.twitter.com/MGqbXUktEu— Military Cognizance (@MiliCognizance) February 13, 2025
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but early reports indicate that the aircraft may have declared an emergency before the accident. Weather conditions in the area were foggy with poor visibility, though it is unclear if this contributed to the incident.
Naval Base Coronado has established an Emergency Operations Center to coordinate aircraft recovery and environmental mitigation efforts. A containment boom has been deployed to limit the spread of fuel and debris, and salvage operations are underway to retrieve the submerged jet. The Navy has warned the public not to approach or collect any debris that may wash ashore, urging residents to report findings to Naval Base Coronado authorities.
The crash occurred amid Bamboo Eagle, a major military exercise taking place off the Southern California coast, though it remains unclear whether the incident was related to the training operation.
Officials from Naval Air Forces Pacific and the Navy’s Electronic Attack Wing have launched an in-depth investigation to determine the cause of the mishap. The EA-18G Growler, an electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, plays a critical role in jamming enemy radar and communications in combat scenarios.
No civilian injuries or property damage have been reported, and authorities continue to monitor the site as the recovery process unfolds.
