Two Fighter Jets Collide Mid-Air During US Air Show
En resumen
- Two EA-18G Growler jets collided mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.
- Four pilots ejected and parachuted to safety, and are reported to be in stable condition.
- The air show was cancelled.
Resumen generado por IA
Por qué importa
Two EA-18G Growler jets collided mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. Four pilots ejected and parachuted to safety. The air show was cancelled. The aircrew involved in the incident were in a stable condition and a fire sparked by the crash was contained.
Two fighter jets have collided mid-air during an air show at a US Air Force Base, forcing pilots to eject and parachute to safety.
The EA-18G Growler jets crashed about 3.2 kilometres from Mountain Home Air Force Base, in Idaho, during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show.
Four parachutes were seen deployed at the time of the crash.
Loading...
The air show's organisers said on Facebook emergency responders were on the scene and investigations were underway.
"More details will be released as they become available," it said.
Reuters reported the Mountain Home Police Department issued a notice that the air show was cancelled and cautioned people not to travel to the area.
Organisers later said on social media the remainder of the air show had been cancelled.
"We are working on a plan to safely allow guests to exit [the] base as soon as possible," it said.
It then confirmed the aircrew involved in the incident were in a stable condition and a fire sparked by the crash was contained.
Organiser Gunfighter Skies promoted the event for weeks in advance, hailing it as the long-awaited return of the air show to Mountain Home for the first time in eight years.
"The Gunfighters are proud to open our gates and share our mission with the community we call home," Colonel D Ray Gunter, commander of the 366th Fighter Wing, said.
"This event attaches a face to the mission, showcasing the skilled professionals and dedicated airmen who make airpower possible."
This is not the first aviation incident in the base's recent history, as according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, aerobatic pilot Dan Buchanan died after crashing onto the runway during an air show in 2018.
The air show's official site lists the E/A-18G "Vikings" Growler Demo Team as one of the scheduled performers.
"The VAQ-129 Vikings EA-18G Growler Demo Team showcases the cutting-edge of electronic warfare, representing the US Navy's premier platform for tactical jamming and electronic attack," it said.
Following the incident, the base announced the air show area would remain open into the afternoon and munition demonstrations, as well as a meet and greet, would go ahead.
Preguntas abiertas
- What caused the mid-air collision?
- Were there any injuries despite the pilots being in stable condition?
- What is the extent of the damage to the aircraft?
- Will there be further investigations into the incident?