Navy EA-18G Growler Crashes East of Mount Rainier; Search Underway for Crew Members

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft, with two crew members aboard, crashed Tuesday afternoon east of Mount Rainier in Washington state. The plane was on a routine training flight when the incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time, the Navy confirmed in a statement.

The aircraft, from Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), also known as the “Zappers,” is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, located north of Seattle.

The squadron is renowned as the oldest electronic warfare unit in the U.S. Navy. The EA-18G Growler, a specialized electronic attack version of the F/A-18 Hornet, plays a crucial role in electronic warfare operations.

As of 7 p.m. on October 15, the status of the two crew members remained unknown, and search and rescue operations were ongoing. A Navy MH-60S helicopter, launched from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, has been deployed to assist in the search, along with other rescue assets. Authorities have stated that more information will be released as it becomes available.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.