In a scene straight out of a movie, two U.S. Navy pilots ejected from their EA-18G Growler fighter jet moments before it plunged into San Diego Bay on Wednesday morning. Fishing charter captain Brandon Viets and his crew, initially drawn to the unusually loud sound of the aircraft, witnessed the unfolding drama and sprang into action.
Viets, who had a dozen people aboard his Premier Sportfishing boat, recounted seeing the jet nearly at eye level, followed by the sight of two parachutes descending. The captain immediately alerted his crew and steered the boat towards the downed pilots. As they raced to the rescue, the unmanned Growler impacted the water just a short distance away, sending a massive plume of water and debris skyward.
The crew quickly pulled the two soaked pilots aboard. Viets described them as remarkably calm and collected despite the ordeal. The Coast Guard arrived shortly thereafter and transported the pilots to a nearby dock, where they were transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine Operations and subsequently taken to a hospital in stable condition.
While the cause of the crash is still under investigation by Naval Base Coronado’s Emergency Operations Center, a statement from H&M Landing suggests a mechanical failure. The Navy is working to recover the aircraft while minimizing environmental impact. They've cautioned the public against handling any debris that may wash ashore due to potential hazards.
This incident comes amidst a series of recent plane crashes across the nation, including a midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane, and fatal crashes in Pennsylvania and Alaska.
