US Navy Growler slams into San Diego Bay during Exercise Bamboo Eagle
A United States Navy Growler fighter jet taking part in Exercise Bamboo Eagle has crashed into San Diego Bay.
Early reports suggest the EA-18G from Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-135, nicknamed the Black Ravens, was in flight when it developed a mechanical glitch.
Footage widely posted online captures the moment the military jet smashed nose-first into the water and completely disappeared from view.
Prior to the impact, both crew members made a split-second decision to eject, escaping the aircraft canopy just before the multimillion-dollar aircraft plummeted into the water.
Exercise Bamboo Eagle is testing coalition forces' ability to deploy aircraft, equipment, and personnel to unfamiliar airfields.
According to defence manufacturer Martin-Baker, the two members of crew successfully ejected and managed to escape the jet using a Martin-Baker US14A NACES Seat.
Images from immediately after the crash show both pilots being plucked safely out of the water and they are both said to be in "good condition" under 24-hour medical observation.
Members of the Royal Air Force are also taking part in the joint exercise and the official RAF account on X posted: "Ex Bamboo Eagle builds upon the tactical expertise of Red Flag, delivering missions further afield in a contested environment.
"Plans must be flexible, using small civilian airports, testing ground crew skills to turn jets around to get back into the fight."
As of Thursday morning, the jet remained submerged in the harbour, with response teams actively assessing the scene, a US Navy spokesperson said.
Authorities are now investigating the causes of the crash and will determine if mechanical failure, weather conditions or human factors were the cause of the crash.
Last month, a Blackhawk helicopter was involved in a mid-air collision with a civilian passenger plane, one of deadliest mid-air collisions in US history.
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