Navy Jets Collide at Air Show in Idaho, All Crew Safe

In Boise, Idaho, four crew members safely ejected when two Navy jets collided during an air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base. The jets were U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 in Whidbey Island, Washington. Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, confirmed the incident.

The collision took place while the jets performed an aerial demonstration. Both aircraft crashed, but all crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition. The base’s marketing director, Kim Sykes, stated, “Everyone is safe, and that’s the most important thing.” The air show was canceled immediately after the incident.

Spectator videos showed four parachutes opening as the aircraft plummeted near the base, located about 50 miles south of Boise. Each EA-18G Growler costs around $67 million and is known for its advanced electronic warfare systems.

I was filming thinking they would split apart, said Shane Ogden, who captured the crash on video. When they hit each other, I filmed the rest.

Ogden left soon after, not wanting to obstruct emergency responders. The air show highlighted aviation history and modern military capabilities, featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti remarked on the rarity of all crew members surviving such a collision. He theorized that the way the planes struck each other may have helped the crews eject quickly. Typically, midair collisions offer little time for ejection.

John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, pointed out that air show flying is demanding with minimal error margin. “The people who do it are very good,” Cox noted, “I’m glad everybody was able to get out.”

The last Gunfighter Skies event at the base was in 2018, when a hang glider pilot died. In 2003, a Thunderbirds pilot ejected safely during a crash. Air show safety has improved over the years, averaging 1.1 deaths annually since 2017. The last fatal air show crashes occurred in 2024 in separate events.

John Cudahy of the International Council of Air Shows highlighted the progress in safety, noting the absence of spectator deaths since 1952. The Navy will investigate Sunday’s crash, but details may be limited compared to civilian accidents.