The Daily Populous Thursday February 13rd, 2025 night edition
Authored by nbcsandiego.com and submitted by cheddarbruce

A military fighter jet with two service members on board crashed into the San Diego Bay near Shelter Island Wednesday, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.

Rescue crews responded around 10:15 a.m. to reports that a military plane with two service members on board crashed into the water, the SDFD said.

The U.S. Navy confirmed the plane involved was a U.S. Navy EA-18 Growler — a variant of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet — assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington.

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A charter fishing boat with H & M Landing was the first on the scene and pulled the service members out of the water. General Manager Frank Ursitti said the captain of the Premier saw the aviators eject from the military plane and immediately turned around to help.

NBC 7 Reporter Kelvin Henry has details on where the investigation stands after two Navy servicemembers ejected safely.

"As all of our crews are trained in lifesaving efforts, immediately came about, turned around picked up both pilots that were in the water," Ursitti said. "And as they were boarding the pilots on the water, [the captain] observed the plane actually ditch into San Diego Bay."

Ursitti said the plane crash happened minutes after the aviators ejected.

A military fighter jet with two service members on board crashed into the San Diego Bay Wednesday, authorities said.

Both service members were conscious when they were pulled out of the water, Ursitti said. They were transferred to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat and taken to the dock where they were transported to UC San Diego Medical Center, the SDFD said.

The extent of their injuries was not disclosed but the military said their condition was stable.

An EA-18G Growler was involved in a deadly crash during a training flight near Mount Rainier, Washington in October 2024. The service members with Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130.

The EA-18G Growler is "the Navy’s first line of defense in hostile environments" with several sensors and weapons to combat threats, According to VAQ-135.

Naval Base Coronado established an emergency operations center as they investigate the cause of the crash.

TRACE Photos capture a military jet that crashed into San Diego Bay on Feb. 12, 2025.

This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.

Nautchy_Zye on February 12nd, 2025 at 20:35 UTC »

This just happened less than a mile from me. I had been sitting in a waiting room for 2.5 hours for an appointment and heard the plane then a huge boom. I didn’t want to lose my spot in line tho so this is me finding out what actually happened

Porkkchops on February 12nd, 2025 at 20:17 UTC »

In case you didn't read it, 2 people on board both ejected before the plane crashed into the bay. Both were rescued and conscious.

MadmanMaddox on February 12nd, 2025 at 20:06 UTC »

It was an Growler, pilots ejected and were picked up. It's foggy as hell and they're picking up the mess of plane bits it left behind.

Edit: EA-18 Growler. Thanks for the correction!