A U.S. Navy fighter jet crashed into San Diego Bay on Wednesday, with the two pilots on board ejecting from the aircraft before being rescued by the Coast Guard.
San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said the crash happened around 10:15 a.m. in the water near Shelter Island.
Navy fighter jet crashes into San Diego Bay near naval air station; 2 pilots rescued https://t.co/blDjqW5nkV
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 12, 2025
“The Navy confirmed there were two pilots onboard the Boeing EA-18G Growler, and both were rescued,” Fox News stated.
“A U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler crashed into San Diego Bay near Shelter Island. Both pilots ejected safely and were rescued by a fishing boat within a minute before being transferred to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection vessel,” Mario Nawfal wrote.
“Emergency responders, including the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Harbor PD, assisted at the scene. The pilots were taken to UC San Diego Health in stable condition, but the extent of their injuries remains unclear,” he added.
U.S. NAVY FIGHTER JET CRASHES INTO SAN DIEGO BAY—PILOTS RESCUED
A U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler crashed into San Diego Bay near Shelter Island.
Both pilots ejected safely and were rescued by a fishing boat within a minute before being transferred to a U.S. Customs and Border… pic.twitter.com/q5w7P0iN3l
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 12, 2025
Fox News reports:
A Navy official told Fox News Digital it is unclear if a distress signal was sent out prior to the crash, and the pilots have not yet been identified.
Reporters at the scene said they saw the fighter jet take off from the runway and then crash into the water, according to KGTV.
Fire officials sent 60 personnel to the scene, including two fire trucks, a foam truck, five engines, a helicopter, two boats and a lifeguard river team.
The pilots were in the water for about a minute, the Coast Guard said. The wreckage remains in the water.
According to Boeing, the EA-18G Growler is an advanced airborne electronic attack aircraft. It provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to U.S. military forces and allies around the world.
2 Navy pilots rescued after fighter jet crashes in San Diego Harbor
Source: CBS NewsTo read more, click the image below. https://t.co/Pdwv1gNihQ
— AOL.com (@AOL) February 12, 2025
WATCH:
The Navy has multiple crews at the crash site on San Diego Bay now working to contain fuel from spilling. The fighter jet is still in the water. pic.twitter.com/vM0XyMrgL3
— Austin Grabish (@AustinGrabish) February 12, 2025
From The San Diego Union-Tribune:
10News, which had a crew in the area, said the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. A reporter who witnessed the crash said she saw “an explosion of water.” TV footage showed Harbor Police and other responding boats placing what appeared to be an orange buoy line around the crash site in the water.
ADVERTISEMENTThe TV station said the plane was a EA-18G Growler, a Navy jet used to jam enemy communications and radar systems. The plane typically carries a pilot and a weapons systems officer.
Justin Eaves, who is vacationing in San Diego, said he saw the Navy jet crash into the bay after hearing it go over his motel near Shelter Island.
“It did a couple of maneuvers. You could hear it when it went over the motel and then it was kind of quiet and then it kicked up again,” Eaves told OnScene TV. “And all of a sudden, a few seconds later, I just saw the plane going straight down into the water.”
He said the pilots who ejected were a short distance away in the water and he saw boats responding to the area. He said it was lucky that the plane went into the water, and didn’t hit any buildings on Shelter Island.
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