All four crew members aboard two US Navy EA-18G Growler jets ejected safely after the aircraft collided during an aerial demonstration at the Gunfighter Skies air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.
The two jets, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 129 based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state, were performing when they struck each other and crashed near the base, about 80 km southeast of Boise.
Base officials said the four aviators were in stable condition. No injuries were reported on the ground.
Video captured by spectators showed the two aircraft appearing to make contact before descending together as four parachutes opened overhead. The jets then crashed and exploded in a fireball.
The air show was halted immediately after the accident and the base was placed under lockdown.
The EA-18G Growler is the Navy’s primary electronic warfare aircraft, designed to jam enemy radar and communications systems.
Aviation safety experts said it was unusual for all four crew members to escape a midair collision, noting that the aircraft appeared to remain intact long enough to allow both crews to eject.
“Crews usually don’t have a chance to eject in a midair collision,” former NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti told the Associated Press.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the US Navy.
Gunfighter Skies, held for the first time since 2018, featured military flight demonstrations and was headlined by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Organisers cancelled the remainder of the event following the crash.
The incident occurred amid favourable weather conditions, though winds were reported to be gusting up to 29 mph (47 kph).
Air show safety in the United States has improved significantly in recent years. According to the International Council of Air Shows, no fatalities were recorded at US air shows in 2024 or 2025.
