NAS Whidbey fighter jet wreckage found after crash east of Mount Rainier, 2 pilots still missing

The wreckage of a Navy aircraft based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island has been found east of Mount Rainier, according to the press release from Naval Air Station North Island.

The wreckage was found just after 12:30 p.m.

The two pilots on board have not been found. It is unknown if they ejected or went down with the aircraft.

Around 3:23 p.m. Tuesday, a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler fighter jet from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 crashed during a routine training flight, according to a news release from the Navy.

Multiple search and rescue assets, including a U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter, launched from NAS Whidbey Island to locate the crew and examine the crash site.

At 7 a.m. Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a flight ban around the site so the area can be searched safely.

As of 11 a.m. neither the crew nor the wreckage has been found.

Additional units supporting search and rescue include: U.S. Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), Patrol Squadron (VP-46), NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, and U.S. Army 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The “Zappers” of VAQ-130 recently completed a combat deployment on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as the only E/A-18G Growler squadron with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, according to the Navy.

The Navy said more information will be released as it becomes available.

All EA-18G squadrons are stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, except one squadron (VAQ-141) based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

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