A dramatic mid-air collision between two EA-18G Growler jets unfolded before horrified spectators at the Gunfighter Skies air show near Mountain Home Air Force Base. All four aircrew parachuted to safety.
By Idea Television News Desk
In a terrifying moment that unfolded live before thousands of spectators, two United States Navy EA-18G Growler electronic attack jets collided mid-air during an aerial demonstration at the Gunfighter Skies air show in Idaho on Sunday — yet all four crew members aboard the two aircraft parachuted to safety and were confirmed to be in stable condition, military officials said.
The collision happened approximately two miles (3.2 km) northwest of Mountain Home Air Force Base, on the second and final day of the air show. The aircraft were performing a choreographed aerial display when they struck each other, sending both jets plummeting to the ground. A fire broke out at the crash site, prompting a brief lockdown of the base while emergency crews responded and the remainder of the air show was immediately cancelled.
“The aircrew involved in the incident are in stable condition,” Mountain Home Air Force Base’s Gunfighters squadron stated in a message posted on social media shortly after the incident. The statement thanked attendees for their “patience and compassion,” which officials said allowed emergency teams to respond quickly and safely.
A US Navy spokesperson confirmed to reporters that all crew members had safely ejected from the aircraft and were being evaluated by medical personnel. It remained unclear Sunday evening whether any of the four had sustained injuries during the ejection or landing.
A $134 Million Collision — And a Miracle Escape
The two EA-18G Growlers involved represent a combined value of roughly $134 million in military hardware. The Growler is the US Navy’s premier airborne electronic attack aircraft, used to jam enemy radar and communications systems, and is operated by a two-person crew — a pilot and a weapons systems officer — making the four safe ejections all the more remarkable given the low altitudes at which air show performances are typically conducted.
Kim Sykes of Silver Wings of Idaho, one of the organisations that helped put together the Gunfighter Skies event, told a local CBS affiliate that no personnel stationed at the military base were harmed by the incident. Ground crews and first responders were praised for their swift management of the fire and crash zone.
How the Events Unfolded
A Show with a Troubled History
Sunday’s incident marks the latest tragedy connected to the Gunfighter Skies event. The air show was last staged in 2018 — an eight-year gap before this weekend’s revival — and that previous edition was also marred by a fatal accident, when a glider pilot died during the proceedings. The cause of the 2026 collision remains under active investigation, with the US Navy and Air Force expected to conduct a full review.
Air show accidents, while relatively rare given the volume of performances staged worldwide each year, tend to draw intense scrutiny because of both their public visibility and the complexity of low-altitude, high-speed manoeuvres performed in close formation. Sunday’s collision will likely prompt a review of safety protocols across similar events in the United States.
