Wreckage of crashed Navy jet found near Mount Rainier as search continues for two crew members
The wreckage of a US Navy fighter jet has been found after it crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington, with a huge search continuing for the two missing crew members.The mangled EA-18G Growler was discovered around 12:30 p.m.Wednesday on a mountainside “in a “remote area that is not accessible by motorized vehicles,” according to Navy officials.The $67 million jet from the Navy’s Electronic Attack Squadron crashed east of Mount Rainier at about 3:23 p.m.
Tuesday during a “routine training flight,” officials said, as the cause remained under investigation.The two crew members were still unaccounted for as of Thursday morning despite a massive search effort in the rainy conditions, including the deployment of a U.S.
Navy MH-60S helicopter. It was unclear if the two crew members managed to eject before the crash, the Navy said.The Navy and local agencies plan to send crews to reach the crash site and secure the area.Snow is expected in the Cascades through the weekend.“I am thankful for the tremendous teamwork displayed by the NAS Whidbey Island squadrons … as Team Whidbey continues to respond to our tragic mishap,” Capt.
David Ganci, commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S.Pacific Fleet, said in a statement.
“I am also grateful to local law enforcement, responders, and tribal communities whose partnership has been essential in planning our critical next steps for access to the site,” he added.The Growler jet is part of “The Zappers,” otherwise known as Electronic Attack Squadron 130 or VAQ-130.Most of the squadrons are based at Whidbey Island with another squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.The “Zappers” were recently deployed on the USS Dwight D.
Eisenhower.Growlers, which cost $67 million a pop, have operated around the globe in the last 15 years supporting major military actions, according to the Navy.“The EA-18G Growler aircraft we fly represents the most advanced technology in airborne Electronic Att...