Two fighter jets collided midair during an air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho on Sunday. Fortunately, all four crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition, as reported by U.S. Naval Air Forces.
Kim Sykes, marketing director with Silver Wings of Idaho, emphasized the significance of everyone’s safety. “Everyone is safe and I think that’s the most important thing,” said Sykes, as covered by KBOI, a CBS affiliate.
The air base went into lockdown after the incident at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show. The remainder of the show was canceled as responders arrived on the scene, and an investigation began.
Videos online showed the aircraft getting entangled before the crew ejected. The planes crashed and burst into flames upon impact. Shane Odgen, a witness, filmed the crew ejecting from the jets after the collision.
The jets, EA-18G Growlers, are part of Electronic Attack Squadron 129 from Whidbey Island, Washington. Each jet costs around $67 million according to the U.S. Navy.
Former pilot and Top Gun instructor, Dave Berke, informed CBS News about the challenging conditions. They were flying at low altitude and slow speeds. Berke said, “The margin for error in this ejection was incredibly small.” He believes luck played a role in the crew’s survival.
The event showcases aviation history and current military capabilities with flying demonstrations and parachute jumps. The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force flight demonstration team, were set to headline both days of the show.
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