In brief
Two crew members of a Navy EA-18G Growler remain missing after their aircraft crashed near Mount Rainier during a routine training flight. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing as officials investigate the cause of the crash.
Search efforts are underway for two Navy crew members missing following the crash of their EA-18G Growler near Washington's Mount Rainier during a training exercise. The condition of the crew members remains unknown, and their identities have not been released. The crash, which occurred at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, is under investigation by Navy officials.Rescue teams from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island are collaborating with an MH-60S helicopter to locate the crew at the crash site east of Mount Rainier. The Boeing EA-18G Growler, noted for its role in electronic warfare, belongs to the VAQ-130 squadron, famously known as the "Zappers," America's oldest electronic warfare squadron. This squadron recently concluded a deployment focused on safeguarding key global waterways and has a significant history of combat missions aimed at countering threats in international waters.Located about 30 miles north of Seattle, Whidbey Island hosts almost all of the Growler squadrons and had announced scheduled training operations for the week. Military training flights have seen their share of dramatic incidents; notable recent crashes highlight the inherent risks of such operations.
