The U.S. Navy confirmed on Sunday that two pilots, missing after the crash of a fighter jet during a routine training flight in Washington, have been declared dead. The incident involved an EA-18G Growler jet from the Electronic Attack Squadron, which went down in mountainous terrain east of Mount Rainier on Tuesday afternoon.
Following the crash, search efforts were launched, including a U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter and special forces soldiers skilled in mountaineering and rescue operations. On Wednesday, an aerial team located the wreckage at around 6,000 feet in a remote, heavily wooded area. Despite the recovery efforts, the pilots could not be saved.
The names of the deceased aviators will be released after their families are notified, according to a statement from the Navy. A long-term salvage and recovery operation is now underway, as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
Captain David Ganci, commander of the Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, expressed sorrow over the loss. "Our priority was to locate the crew as quickly and safely as possible," he said.
This crash is a reminder of the risks associated with military flight training. In recent incidents, a crash in May involving an F-35 fighter jet in New Mexico resulted in serious injuries to the pilot, while last year, eight U.S. Air Force service members died in an Osprey crash off the coast of Japan.
No comments:
Post a Comment