SAN DIEGO — A U.S. Navy EA-18 Growler fighter jet crashed into San Diego Harbor on Wednesday morning, with both pilots ejecting safely before being rescued by the Coast Guard, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.
The fighter jet went down at approximately 10:15 a.m. local time during a go-around maneuver, which occurs when a plane aborts a landing and prepares for takeoff again, a Navy official reported.
Pilots in Good Condition After Fighter Jet Crash
The two pilots were quickly rescued by a nearby fishing vessel after spending about a minute in the water, the Coast Guard confirmed.
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“Both pilots are in good condition and remain under 24-hour medical observation out of an abundance of caution,” the Navy stated in a news release.
Fighter Jet Crash Investigation Underway
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, and the site has been secured. Authorities have requested that any debris spotted by the public be reported for recovery.
The EA-18 Growler was in San Diego as part of the Bamboo Eagle integrated training exercise and was operating out of North Island at the time of the incident.
Airfield Operations Resume
Following the crash, the airfield was temporarily closed but is expected to reopen soon to continue scheduled flights for the exercise.
