A fighter jet crashed in San Diego Bay on Wednesday (12th), as it attempted to make an emergency landing. The United States Navy issued a warning on Thursday (13th) for the public to stay away from the area as debris from the crash may wash up onshore. The Navy advised people to keep a safe distance and not interfere with any recovery efforts of the wreckage that may contain dangerous materials such as weapons or classified components.
According to the Navy’s statement, some of the debris may pose risks if mishandled. The E/A-18G Growler jet crashed near the Shelter Island community, about 8 miles from downtown San Diego. Two military pilots ejected from the aircraft during the emergency landing and were rescued by a sports fishing vessel. They were then taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and are reported to be in good condition, undergoing 24-hour observation.
The Navy is coordinating the salvage operation of the aircraft, with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One leading the recovery efforts. The primary focus of the salvage operation is to quickly retrieve the aircraft from the water while minimizing environmental impact.
The Navy strongly urges the public not to approach, touch, or collect any debris that may wash ashore. Any findings of wreckage should be reported to Naval Base Coronado via email. The Navy also deployed harbor security boats on Wednesday night to protect the crash site and placed oil containment booms to contain fuel and debris spread. Environmental and safety teams are working to mitigate the environmental impact.
As of now, there have been no reports of injuries or property damage to civilians. The emergency operations center at the naval base continues its investigation into the cause of the accident.
The aircraft was assigned to an electronic attack squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington. It was attempting to land at Naval Air Station North Island on the Coronado Peninsula in San Diego. The E/A-18G Growler is an electronic warfare variant of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 fighter jet, capable of executing various offensive and defensive countermeasures. Its advanced technology includes communication jamming and electronic scanning array radar.