Crashed U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler Located near Mount Rainier

The fighter jet crashed Tuesday at 3:23 p.m. PDT during a routine training flight, according to Navy officials. The names of the flight crew have not been released.

According to a Navy spokesperson, the wreckage of the jet was spotted on a mountainside east of Mount Rainier shortly after noon Wednesday. As of 10:30 a.m. PDT Thursday, the search continued for the two crewmen aboard the aircraft. 

The search teams include the U.S. Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), Patrol Squadron (VP-46), Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, and U.S. Army 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, along with Yakima County tribal and local authorities.

Terrain near the crash site is rugged and snow covered, and the search was hampered by low visibility. A temporary flight restriction was put in place over the area Tuesday afternoon and was expected to remain in place until Saturday. Wreckage is in an area so remote that it can only be accessed by air.

The aircraft, based out of NAS Whidbey Island north of Seattle, was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers.” 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.