2 missing US Navy pilots declared dead after days of search ops in Washington state fighter-jet crash

Two US Navy pilots were declared dead after they went missing following the crash of a fighter jet in mountainous terrain in Washington. The crash of an EA-18G Growler jet from the Electronic Attack Squadron took place on Tuesday afternoon in the east of Mount Rainier.

After an extensive search operation, the authorities on Sunday declared the Navy pilots dead. The search teams, including a US Navy MH-60S helicopter, launched from the air station to try to find the crew and crash site, soon after the incident. In a statement released on Sunday, the US Navy maintained that the identities of the two pilots will not be revealed until a day after their next of kin have been notified.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” said Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of the aviators’ Electronic Attack Squadron. “Our priority right now is taking care of the families of our fallen aviators. We are grateful for the ongoing teamwork to safely recover the deceased," he added.

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A training flight that turned fatal

The crash occurred when the aircraft was involved in a routine training flight in the treacherous region. The search operation took place near Mount Rainier, a towering active volcano that is blanketed in snowfields and glaciers year-round. “Locating the missing crew members as quickly and as safely as possible had been a top priority,” Capt David Ganci, commander, of the Electronic Attack Wing, US Pacific Fleet, said on Thursday.

It is pertinent to note that military aircraft training exercises can be dangerous, especially in mountainous regions. Sometimes, these exercises can result in crashes, injuries and deaths. In May this year, an F-35 fighter jet on its way from Texas to Edwards base near Los Angeles crashed shortly after the pilot stopped to refuel in New Mexico.

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At that time, the pilot was the only person who was onboard and was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Last year, eight US Air Force service members were killed when a CV-22B Osprey aircraft they were flying in crashed off the coast of Japan.

With inputs from The Associated Press.