Two crew members were ejected from a Navy jet before it crashed off the coast of San Diego on Wednesday. They were quickly rescued by a sportfishing boat, authorities reported.
The two crew members of the E/A-18G Growler were initially picked up by the Premier Sportfishing vessel. They were then transferred to a Customs and Border Protection boat, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Christopher Sappey.
The crash occurred during a “go-around maneuver,” a procedure where the aircraft lands and attempts to take off again, Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Beth Teach explained. The exact cause of the crash is under investigation.
On a live webcam showing San Diego harbor traffic, a voice from the Premier vessel was heard informing the Coast Guard that the crew ejected right after takeoff.
“We’re on our way to assist,” the person said around 10:14 a.m. “They’re in the water.”
Soon after the crash, a report from the boat confirmed, “We have both pilots on board and they’re safe.”
Brandon Viets, the captain of the Premier, mentioned that he was out on a fishing trip near Point Loma with a dozen passengers when he heard a jet taking off from the naval base. He noted that the jet’s sound seemed louder than usual.
Captain Brandon Viets noticed two people parachuting from the jet and immediately steered his boat toward them. The jet continued flying for several minutes before it crashed into the water, creating a large plume of water and debris, reaching 70 to 80 feet, Viets described.
Frank Ursitti, general manager of H&M Landing, praised Captain Viets and the Premier crew for their quick and professional response in rescuing the pilots.
The two ejected crew members were taken to a hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
The Coast Guard sent two vessels to secure the wreckage of the Growler in San Diego Harbor, according to Petty Officer Christopher Sappey.
The Growler is a two-seat jet designed for electronic warfare operations.
In a similar incident, a Navy aircraft crashed last October during a routine training mission in Washington state, resulting in the deaths of its two crew members. The wreckage was located in a remote mountainous area.