Everyone is safe and I think that's the most important thing
Above the high desert of western Idaho on Sunday, two Navy electronic attack jets collided during a public air show, their crews ejecting into the open sky as the aircraft spiraled down in flames. All four aviators survived — a fact that, amid the spectacle of destruction, speaks to the quiet reliability of safety systems designed for the worst moments. The incident, the second serious air show accident at Mountain Home Air Force Base in less than a decade, now invites a broader reckoning with the risks woven into the theater of military aviation.
- Two EA-18G Growlers made contact mid-air during a scheduled demonstration, sending both aircraft into a tandem spiral before they exploded on impact with the ground.
- Witnesses and bystanders watched in shock as four parachutes opened against the Idaho sky — the only reassuring sight in an otherwise catastrophic sequence.
- Mountain Home Air Force Base was immediately locked down, the remainder of the Gunfighter Skies air show canceled, and the public urged to stay clear of the crash site.
- All four crew members — two pilots and two weapons officers — were evaluated by medical personnel and found uninjured, with no casualties reported on the ground.
- An official investigation has been launched to determine what caused the collision, and the incident is already raising pointed questions about aerial demonstration safety protocols.
On a Sunday afternoon at Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho, two Navy EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 collided in mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies air show. Witnesses watched as the jets — sleek electronic warfare aircraft based out of Whidbey Island, Washington — made contact during their scheduled performance, then began spinning together toward the earth. All four crew members ejected successfully, their parachutes visible against the sky before the planes hit the ground in a burst of flame.
Shane Ogden, who had been filming the demonstration, captured the moment of impact on video. He described watching what he assumed would be a routine split maneuver turn into something far more serious, continuing to film as the crew deployed their chutes and the aircraft descended. His footage, along with videos from other witnesses, circulated online and showed the full arc of the incident.
Naval Air Forces spokesperson Commander Amelia Umayam confirmed the collision but provided limited detail on its cause. The base was locked down immediately, emergency responders moved to the crash site, and organizers brought the air show to a close. Kim Sykes of Silver Wings of Idaho, a co-organizer of the event, noted that the survival of all four crew members was the only outcome that truly mattered.
The crash is the second serious incident at Mountain Home during an air show in under a decade — a hang glider pilot died there in 2018, and a Thunderbirds jet went down in 2003, though its pilot managed to steer clear of spectators before ejecting. The Gunfighter Skies event had not been held at the base since that 2018 incident. Investigators are now working to understand what went wrong, and the collision is expected to prompt a wider review of safety practices for military aerial demonstrations.
Two Navy jets collided and fell from the sky above Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho on Sunday afternoon, their pilots ejecting safely as witnesses watched the aircraft spiral downward and explode on impact. The two EA-18G Growlers, electronic attack jets from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 based at Whidbey Island in Washington, were performing an aerial demonstration as part of the Gunfighter Skies air show when the incident occurred. All four crew members—two pilots and two weapons officers—ejected successfully and were evaluated by medical personnel on the ground. No one at the base was injured.
Commander Amelia Umayam, a spokesperson for Naval Air Forces under the U.S. Pacific Fleet, confirmed the collision in a statement but offered few details about what caused the two aircraft to make contact during their scheduled performance. The base, located roughly 50 miles south of Boise, was immediately locked down following the crash. Responders rushed to the scene as organizers canceled the remainder of the air show and asked the public to stay away from the area.
Shane Ogden was filming the two jets as they approached each other during the demonstration. His video captures the moment the aircraft appear to touch, then begin spinning in tandem as the crew members deploy their parachutes. The planes continue their descent together before hitting the ground in a burst of flame. "I was just filming thinking they were going to split apart and that happened and I filmed the rest," Ogden said in a text message. He left the scene shortly after to avoid interfering with emergency operations.
Multiple witnesses reported seeing the collision, and videos posted online showed four parachutes opening in the sky as the jets fell toward the ground. Kim Sykes, the marketing director for Silver Wings of Idaho, which helped organize the air show, emphasized that the safe ejection of all crew members was what mattered most. "Everyone is safe and I think that's the most important thing," she said.
The crash marked the second significant incident at Mountain Home Air Force Base during an air show in less than a decade. In 2018, a hang glider pilot died during a performance at the base. Eight years before that, in 2003, a Thunderbirds aircraft crashed while attempting a maneuver, though the pilot managed to steer it away from spectators and eject just before impact. The Gunfighter Skies event, which celebrates aviation history and showcases modern Air Force capabilities, had not been held at the base since 2018.
The collision is now under investigation, with officials working to determine what went wrong during the demonstration. The EA-18G Growler, known as the Vikings in the demo team lineup, is a two-seat electronic warfare aircraft used by the Navy for jamming and electronic attack missions. The incident will likely prompt a review of safety protocols for aerial demonstrations at the base and elsewhere.
Citas Notables
I was just filming thinking they were going to split apart and that happened and I filmed the rest— Shane Ogden, witness who captured video of the collision
Everyone is safe and I think that's the most important thing— Kim Sykes, marketing director for Silver Wings of Idaho
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
What made these two jets collide in the first place? Was it a mechanical failure, or human error during the maneuver?
That's what investigators are trying to figure out right now. The statement from Naval Air Forces doesn't say. All we know is they were performing an aerial demonstration when they made contact. It could have been a miscalculation of spacing, a radio communication issue, or something with one of the aircraft itself.
The fact that all four crew members ejected safely—is that luck, or does the training and equipment make that outcome likely?
Both, probably. These are highly trained military pilots in modern jets with reliable ejection systems. But you still have to be conscious enough to recognize the emergency and pull the handle. The timing had to be right. Ogden's video shows them ejecting almost immediately after contact, which suggests they reacted fast.
Why does this base have a history of air show incidents? Is there something about Mountain Home specifically?
That's a fair question, but I'd be careful about drawing conclusions from two incidents eight years apart. Air shows are inherently risky events—you're asking pilots to fly close together at high speeds for entertainment. The 2018 hang glider death and the 2003 Thunderbirds crash don't necessarily point to a systemic problem at this base. But it's worth asking whether safety reviews have been thorough.
The air show hadn't happened there since 2018. Does that suggest they were being cautious, or just that it took time to organize another one?
The article doesn't say. It could be either. But the timing is notable—they bring the air show back after eight years, and within hours, you have another serious incident. That will definitely shape how people think about holding these events there in the future.
What happens to the investigation now?
The Navy will examine the wreckage, review radio communications, look at the flight plans and the weather conditions. They'll interview the crew members once they're cleared medically. It could take weeks or months to determine a cause. And depending on what they find, there could be changes to how these demonstrations are conducted.