Navy jet crashes off San Diego; crew ejects, rescued by boat

Robert Besser
17 Feb 2025, 23:16 GMT+10

Two crew members ejected from a Navy jet before it crashed into the ocean near San Diego this week
A sportfishing boat quickly rescued them, officials said
The fishing boat Premier first picked up the two men and then transferred to a Customs and Border Protection vessel, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Christopher Sappey

LOS ANGELES, California: Two crew members ejected from a Navy jet before it crashed into the ocean near San Diego this week. A sportfishing boat quickly rescued them, officials said.

The fishing boat Premier first picked up the two men and then transferred to a Customs and Border Protection vessel, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Christopher Sappey.

Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Beth Teach said the crash happened during a "go-around maneuver," in which the plane landed and then took off again. The cause is still under investigation.

A live webcam caught a Premier crew member calling the Coast Guard, saying the pilots ejected right after takeoff. "We are on our way to help assist," the man reported at 10:14 a.m. A few minutes later, he confirmed, "We have both pilots on board and safe."

Brandon Viets, the boat's captain, was leading a fishing trip near Point Loma when he heard a jet taking off from the naval base. "It sounded louder than normal," he said. When he turned, he saw two people parachuting down and quickly steered his boat toward them.

The jet stayed in the air for a few minutes before crashing into the water, creating a massive plume of water and mud, rising 70 to 80 feet high, Viets said.

Frank Ursitti, general manager of H&M Landing, which owns the Premier, praised the crew's quick response in rescuing the pilots.

The two crew members were taken to a hospital and were in stable condition. The Coast Guard sent two boats to secure the crash site.

The E/A-18G Growler is a two-seater jet used for electronic warfare. Last October, a similar Navy jet crashed during a training flight in Washington state, killing both crew members.