2 US naval aviators killed in fighter jet crash near Mount Rainier identified

NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. — The U.S. Navy on Monday identified the two naval aviators who were killed when their EA-18G Growler crashed near Mount Rainier on Oct. 15.

Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans, a naval flight officer from California, and Lt. Serena Wileman, a naval aviator, were identified as the victims of the deadly crash. Both naval aviators were 31-year-old women from California.

The U.S. Navy declared the two missing crewmembers of the EA-18G Growler crash, dead on Friday.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” said Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130.

Crews on site continued in mid-October to search the expansive area, recovering debris and planning for the long-term salvage and recovery effort.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

On Monday afternoon, President Joe Biden released the following statement on the loss of the aviators:

Jill and I mourn the tragic loss of two naval aviators, Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay Evans and Lieutenant Serena Wileman, who were killed when their EA-18G Growler aircraft crashed last Tuesday near Mount Rainier, Washington during a routine training mission.  They were among our nation’s finest and had just recently returned to the United States after an extended deployment to the Middle East defending against Houthi missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea.  We thank the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and Yakima County Tribal and local authorities for their efforts to locate and recover these two brave and talented young aviators.  We pray for their families, loved ones and squadron-mates, and we will always honor their service and sacrifice.

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Search and rescue teams are racing to find two Navy pilots whose fighter jet crashed near Mt. Rainier on Tuesday.

The pilots are from a squadron known as The Zappers and were in an EA-18 Growler out of NAS Whidbey Island on a routine training flight.

Aviation expert John Nance told KIRO 7 that the Growler is equipped with highly advanced electronics that would have alerted the pilots of any danger.

It’s unclear whether the pilots were able to eject in time or went down with the jet.

“It makes you sick because you know how much power those airplanes have and how much sophistication in the electronics and how sophisticated the pilots are,” said Nance. “What we don’t know is, was something going wrong with the jet that didn’t give these guys time to react?”

The Navy says the wreckage, found Wednesday, was located on a steep mountainside.

The terrain is so treacherous that vehicles can’t get through for miles.

Also, rain and low visibility could make those efforts even more difficult.

Doug McCall, president of Seattle Mountain Rescue, says his group has trained and teamed up with the Navy for rescues in the past and has no doubt they are prepared for this mission.

“They train for this type of event and the Navy SAR helicopter team out of Whidbey Island is probably one of the best teams I’ve ever worked with,” said McCall.

The Navy is also getting help from teams with JBLM and Yakima County Sheriff’s.

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