A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler crashed in San Diego Bay. According to the first reports, the crew members ejected safely.
Reports have started circulating online of a U.S. Navy aircraft crashing in the San Diego Bay around 10.00 AM LT on Feb. 12, 2025. The aircraft reportedly went down in the water water off Point Loma coast in San Diego, California.
A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T “Jayhawk” was circling over the Bay for a while, likely searching for the Wreckage of the Aircraft. pic.twitter.com/oWBwcTnJfc
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 12, 2025
A U.S. Navy spokesperson told ABC 10News that the aircraft involved was an EA-18G Growler. The spokesperson also confirmed that the aircrew ejected, and the U.S. Coast Guard successfully rescued them.
An ABC 10News team happened to be nearby covering a different story when they witnessed the immediate aftermath of the crash.
Naval Air Station North Island is located just east of where the news crew was positioned during the incident.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department initially responded but was later called off as federal emergency teams, including the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Harbor Police, handled the rescue and pulled the pilots from the water.
Both pilots were transported to UC San Diego Health, according to SDFD. An ABC 10News reporter saw the pilots being brought into the hospital. Harbor Police are currently maintaining a perimeter around the crash site.
While the full extent of the pilots’ injuries is not yet known, they were reported to be in stable condition.
According to some reports, the aircraft declared an emergency before the accident. Bad weather/poor visibility is reported in the crash area.
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Our friend Rick Kane (@paintingsurfer) shared some incredible shots of the mishap.
A video shared on X shows the EA-18G diving at fast speed towards the surface of sea.
U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft crashed into San Diego Bay near Naval Air Station North Island.
Both crew members successfully ejected before impact. pic.twitter.com/pBnbGcrpwT
— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 12, 2025
Here’s another video providing a better look at the impact.
Video of the impact via Instagram. pic.twitter.com/iP9C04cAT3
— mr. ice (@Flammenwerfer89) February 12, 2025
The Growler may have been one of those involved in Exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-1, a multinational exercise launched by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and aimed at enhancing cooperation, agility, and combat readiness. This year’s iteration brings together the U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and, for the first time, the Royal Canadian Air Force. Focused on Agile Combat Employment, the exercise prepares forces to rapidly adapt, relocate, and sustain operations across dispersed locations, even under contested conditions. According to Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi, this training strengthens allied capabilities to face emerging threats as a cohesive unit.
The EA-18G Growler is the Electronic Warfare/Attack variant of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet that replaced the EA-6B Prowlers in U.S. Navy service. The aircraft is operated by the VAQ-129 Vikings; VAQ-130 Zappers; VAQ-131 Lancers; VAQ-132 Scorpions; VAQ-133 Wizards; VAQ-134 Garudas; VAQ-135 Black Ravens; VAQ-136 Gauntlets; VAQ-137 Rooks; VAQ-138 Yellowjackets; VAQ-139 Cougars; VAQ-140 Patriots; VAQ-141 Shadowhawks; VAQ-142 Gray Wolves; VAQ-143 Cobras and VAQ-144 Main Battery.
The one involved in the crash should be EA-18G 166855 assigned to the VAQ-135 Black Ravens.
Today’s crash of a Growler in San Diego Bay brings to mind the tragic incident last October, when an EA-18G Growler went down near Mount Rainier, claiming the lives of two naval aviators. In fact, an EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack assigned to the Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130) “Zappers” crashed near Mount Rainier, Washington, on Oct. 15, 2024 at 3:23 p.m. local time. The aircraft wreckage was located in the mountainous region by search teams on Wednesday, October 16. The fate of the two naval aviators aboard the Growler at the time of the crash remained unknown until Oct. 21, 2024, when the U.S. Navy identified them as Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay “Miley” Evans and Lt. Serena “Dug” Wileman.
For more details on the previous crash, check out The Aviationist‘s report here.
This is a developing story. We will update the story as more details are disclosed.
