A dramatic midair collision involving two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets forced an immediate lockdown at Mountain Home Air Force Base on Sunday. All four crew members aboard the aircraft successfully ejected and survived the crash.
According to the U.S. Navy, the aircraft involved belonged to Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129), based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. The collision occurred roughly two miles from the base while the jets were performing close-formation maneuvers during the celebrated “Gunfighter Skies 2026” air show.
Commander Amelia Umayam, a spokesperson for the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet, confirmed that all four aircrew members safely ejected from the spiraling aircraft and were immediately transported to a local medical facility for evaluation.
Visual Footage Captures the Collision
Dramatic video footage captured by spectators and shared widely across social media shows the two advanced aircraft maneuvering in close proximity before making structural contact and becoming momentarily entangled.
As the jets spun uncontrollably toward the desert floor, sparks flew from the airframes just seconds before four distinct parachutes deployed in the sky. The unmanned aircraft subsequently plunged to the ground, triggering a massive fireball and sending a thick column of black smoke rising above the landscape. The impact also ignited a localized brush fire.
Emergency Response and Road Closures
Base officials and local law enforcement confirmed that no spectators or ground personnel were injured in the incident. First responders secured the crash site immediately, and the remaining events scheduled for the air show on Sunday were officially canceled.
The Idaho State Police, alongside local sheriff departments, assisted with emergency evacuations and traffic control. Multiple roadways surrounding the installation were affected:
- State Highway 67 (Airbase Road): Temporarily closed for three and a half hours to accommodate emergency vehicles.
- State Highway 167 (Grandview Highway): Closed indefinitely between the MHAFB Contractors Gate and Easy Street while an official accident investigation is underway. Authorities expect this closure to last for several days.
Colonel David Gunter, Commander of the 366th Fighter Wing, praised the swift and coordinated response of the base and local emergency rescue services.
“The absolute most critical factor in an incident like this is that everyone involved walked away safe,” Colonel Gunter stated, expressing relief over the successful ejections.
The Gunfighter Skies air show was making its highly anticipated return this weekend for the first time since 2018. The two-day aviation exhibition featured a variety of modern military flight demonstrations and was scheduled to be headlined by the U.S. Air Force’s premier aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds.
