The two missing EA-18G Growler crew members involved in a crash last week are now pronounced dead, the Navy announced Sunday.
The fighter jet, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, crashed east of Mount Rainier on Tuesday while conducting a routine training flight, according to the Navy.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron 130, said in a statement. “Our priority right now is taking care of the families of our fallen aviators, and ensuring the well-being of our Sailors and the Growler community. We are grateful for the ongoing teamwork to safely recover the deceased.”
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The Navy will not disclose the crew members’ identities until 24 hours after next of kin are notified, in accordance with Department of Defense protocol.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, and salvage and recovery efforts continue, the Navy said.
Wreckage was found Wednesday, but the Navy said Thursday night that it “rests at approximately 6,000 feet altitude in a remote, steep and heavily-wooded area east of Mount Rainier.”
Soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord were assisting in the search, the Navy said.
Electronic Attack Squadron 130, known as the “Zappers,” wrapped up a deployment to the Middle East with Carrier Air Wing 3 embarked on the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in July.
Most EA-18G squadrons are based out of Whidbey Island. The aircraft is a variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and features an electronic warfare suite.
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