Rescue teams are working to reach the wreckage of a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler jet that crashed in a remote and rugged area near Mount Rainier, Washington, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Despite locating the crash site, bad weather and mountainous terrain have made it difficult to search for the plane’s two-man crew, who remain unaccounted for.
The EA-18G Growler, based out of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, was on a routine training mission when it went down at around 3:23 p.m. near White Pass. Aerial search teams, including a Navy surveillance aircraft and a submarine-hunting P-8A Poseidon, located the wreckage on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 6,000 feet elevation in a steep, heavily wooded region. Low visibility and difficult access have slowed rescue efforts.
Specialized Army Green Berets from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, trained in high-angle rescue and mountaineering, have been deployed to the area to assist in reaching the crash site. Navy spokespersons confirmed that the priority is to locate the two aviators as quickly and safely as possible. However, as of Thursday evening, no sign of the crew has been found, and their status remains unknown.
The identities of the crew members, who included a pilot and an Electronic Warfare Officer, have not been released. Capt. David Ganci, commander of Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, emphasized that no names would be made public until their next of kin are notified, in accordance with Department of Defense policy.
Several military units and civilian agencies are participating in the search, including NAS Whidbey Island’s search and rescue teams, Army helicopters from the 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron, and local law enforcement. Despite challenging conditions, aerial searches have been ongoing since the crash, with flights combing the area around Mount Rainier in search of the missing crew.
The EA-18G Growler, a variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, is designed for electronic warfare and disrupting enemy radar systems. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the Navy.
