LOS ANGELES — On Wednesday, two crew members ejected from a Navy E/A-18G Growler jet before it crashed into the ocean near San Diego and were quickly rescued by a sportfishing vessel, as confirmed by authorities.
The individuals aboard the jet were first saved by the Premier Sportfishing boat and subsequently transferred to a Customs and Border Protection vessel, as stated by Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Christopher Sappey. The incident occurred during a “go-around maneuver,” where the jet landed and attempted to take off again. An investigation is currently underway regarding the cause of the crash, according to Navy representative Cmdr. Beth Teach.
A live feed from a webcam in the San Diego harbor captured someone on the Premier informing the Coast Guard that the crew members had ejected just after takeoff. At approximately 10:14 a.m., the individual reported, “We’re on our way to help assist. They’re in the water.” Shortly after, another report confirmed, “We have both pilots on board and safe.”
Brandon Viets, captain of the Premier, recounted that he was carrying a dozen passengers on a fishing expedition near Point Loma when he noticed a Navy jet taking off that sounded unusually loud. He turned to observe two individuals descending from the sky with parachutes and quickly navigated his boat toward them. The jet remained airborne for a few moments before plunging into the ocean, Viets said.
“All I could see was a plume of water and mud shooting up about 70 to 80 feet high,” Viets remarked. Frank Ursitti, general manager of H&M Landing, the owner of the boat, praised Captain Viets and his crew for their prompt action, stating that their professionalism was crucial in bringing the pilots to safety.
The rescued crew members were taken to a hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition. The Coast Guard dispatched two vessels to secure the wreckage of the Growler within the San Diego Harbor.
The E/A-18G Growler is a specialized two-seat jet used for electronic warfare operations. In a related account, a similar Navy aircraft crashed last October during a regular training mission in Washington state, tragically resulting in the deaths of both crew members, with wreckage located in a remote mountainous area.
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This article has been updated to clarify the spelling of the vessel as Premier, not Premiere.
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