A popular air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base was suddenly shut down Sunday after two U.S. Navy fighter jets collided in midair and crashed, forcing a lockdown at the base.
The crash occurred around 12:10 p.m. local time during the second day of the Gunfighter Skies Air Show. The jets were performing an aerial demonstration about two miles northwest of the base when they collided, according to base officials and a Navy spokesperson.
Both aircraft were EA-18G Growlers assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. All four aviators — two in each jet — successfully ejected from their planes. They were recovered and are being evaluated by medical personnel, Cmdr. Amelia Umayam of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Naval Air Force said.
No serious injuries have been reported so far. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.
The base, home to the Air Force’s 366th Fighter Wing (known as the “Gunfighters”), announced a lockdown shortly after the crash at 12:30 p.m. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene. Officials canceled the rest of the air show and urged the public to stay away from the area.
Videos shared on social media captured the dramatic moment. In one clip, the two jets can be seen colliding before spinning downward in a fiery crash, with thick black smoke rising from the ground. Witnesses reported seeing four parachutes deploy safely near the crash site.
One attendee who recorded video told NBC News, “I heard someone next to me say ‘We are down.’ I turned around and saw four parachutes coming down, then black smoke appeared.” The witness added that the crowd remained calm and that many people at the show were military families. Spectators were not allowed to leave the area immediately after the incident.
Mountain Home police also announced the cancellation of the air show and asked people to avoid traveling to the base.
The air show had been going well up to that point. Just a day earlier, base officials had posted photos celebrating the first day’s events, saying it was “packed with unforgettable moments.”
This is a developing story. Officials say more information will be released as the investigation continues.
