Idaho Air Force Base Locked Down After Midair Collision
Four crew members are safe after two US Navy EA-18G Growlers collided and crashed to the ground during the Gunfighter Skies air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho on Sunday, officials said.
The collision involved two aircraft from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 based in Whidbey Island, Washington, according to Cmdr Amelia Umayam, a spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, US Pacific Fleet. The jets were performing an aerial demonstration when the crash occurred. All four crew members ejected safely and were being evaluated by medical personnel. The incident is under investigation.
Kim Sykes, marketing director with Silver Wings of Idaho, which helped plan the air show, confirmed that no one on the ground at the military base was hurt. “Everyone is safe and I think that’s the most important thing,” Sykes said.
The Mountain Home Air Force Base announced on social media that the base was locked down following the incident. Responders were on the scene, and an investigation is underway. The air show was canceled, and the Mountain Home police department advised against traveling to the area.
Multiple witnesses reported two planes crashing. Videos posted online showed four parachutes opening as the planes plummeted to the ground near the base, about 50 miles south of Boise. Shane Ogden, who captured the collision on video, described seeing the aircraft make contact and spin together before the crew ejected and the planes fell, exploding into a fireball upon impact. Ogden left the scene to avoid interfering with emergency responders.
The Gunfighter Skies air show is a popular event featuring flying demonstrations that celebrate aviation history and showcase modern Air Force capabilities. This year’s event was the first at the base since 2018, when a hang glider died in a crash during a performance. In 2003, a Thunderbirds aircraft crashed while attempting a maneuver; the pilot ejected safely.
