Military jets' crew members safely ejected after Idaho air-show collision, Navy says


WASHINGTON, May ⁠17 (Reuters) - Four crew members involved in a mid-air ⁠collision of military jets at an air show ejected ‌safely on Sunday outside Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, the U.S. Navy said.

Two E/A-18G Growler jets collided in mid-air 2 miles from ​the base during the two-day Gunfighter Skies ⁠Air Show, said Cmdr. ⁠Amelia Umayam, a spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific ⁠Fleet.

The ‌two jets with four air crew collided "while performing an aerial demonstration" at around 12:10 p.m. MDT as ⁠part of the air show, Umayam added, noting ​that all four ‌crew members ejected safely.

"The incident is under investigation. More ⁠information will ​be released as it becomes available," Umayam said.

The air base was locked down after the crash, according to Mountain Home's Facebook ⁠page.

The air show's official site lists ​the U.S. Navy's E/A-18G "Vikings" Growler Demo Team as one of the scheduled performers.The jets involved in the collision were assigned to ⁠Electronic Attack Squadron 129 from Whidbey Island, Washington, Umayam said.

Sunday marked the first Gunfighter Skies Air Show in eight years. A hang glider pilotdied in a crash during the last ​show in 2018.

The Mountain Home Fire Department, ⁠Mountain Home Police Department and Elmore County emergency management coordinator ​did not immediately respond to requests ‌for comment.

(Reporting by Matt Tracy in ​Washington, D.C., and Sinead Carew in New York; Editing by Chris Reese, Sergio Non and Mark Porter)

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