Four crew members involved in a mid-air collision of military aircraft during an air show ejected safely Sunday outside Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, the U.S. Navy said.
Two E/A-18G Growler aircraft collided in mid-air 2 miles from the base during the two-day Gunfighter Skies air show, said Cmdr Amelia Umayam, a spokeswoman for Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The two planes with four crew members collided “during an aerial display” around 12:10 p.m. MDT as part of the air show, Umayam added, noting that all four crew members ejected safely.
“The incident is under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available,” Umayam said.
The air base was placed on lockdown after the accident, according to the Mountain Home Facebook page.
The official air show website lists the US Navy’s E/A-18G “Vikings” Growler Demo Team as one of the scheduled performers. The planes involved in the collision were assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 129 on Whidbey Island, Washington, Umayam said.
Sunday marked the first Gunfighter Skies air show in eight years. A hang glider pilot died in an accident during the last show in 2018.
The Mountain Home Fire Department, Mountain Home Police Department and Elmore County Emergency Management Coordinator did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
