Four crew members were ejected from two U.S. Navy jets after they collided mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho over the weekend. Emergency crews responded swiftly to the scene following the collision, which occurred during the aerial demonstration.
Collision and Ejection
Video footage captured one jet heading directly toward the other before their wings became entangled. Moments later, four individuals were seen descending by parachute as the locked-together aircraft plummeted to the ground and exploded. Kim Sykes, marketing director for Silver Wings of Idaho, which helped plan the event, confirmed that all four pilots are safe. She noted that the crash occurred off base and she did not witness the incident but saw smoke afterward.
Base Lockdown and Investigation
The air force base announced on social media that it was locked down following the incident. Responders were dispatched to the crash site, and an investigation is now underway. An air show announcer told the Idaho Statesman: 'We had four good parachutes. The crews were able to eject. They’re located one mile south of where the smoke is. The parachutes came down.'
Multiple witnesses reported seeing the two planes collide and crash, with videos posted online showing four parachutes opening in the sky as the aircraft fell near the base, located approximately 50 miles south of Boise.
Air Show Background
Organizers described the popular air show, which features flying demonstrations and parachute jumps, as a celebration of aviation history and a showcase of modern military capabilities. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds were the headliners for both days of the event. The National Weather Service reported good visibility and wind gusts up to 29 mph around the time of the crash, leaving the cause of the accident uncertain.
