Shocking video shows the US military fighter jet that crashed in San Diego Harbor Wednesday smack into the water and explode moments after both pilots ejected to safety.
The two-seat EA-18G Growler electric jet is seen darting down from the sky and slamming into the cold harbor water at 10:17 a.m., according to video obtained by CBS 8 San Diego.
As the jet impacted the surface, a massive plume of smoke and water shot into the air before disappearing off the shore near Shelter Island, a neighborhood located across the bay from Naval Air Station North Island.
“The plane hit the water, and there was an explosion. A lot of black plumes, and then it just like got sucked into the water,” One witness told the outlet. “Within 15 seconds, there was nothing.”
The two Navy pilots were rescued by a fishing boat in the harbor shortly after they ejected.
The fishing vessel’s captain said he saw “two parachutes with two dots underneath” coming down toward the water, and he and his four-man crew immediately jumped into action to rescue them.
“Luckily, we were there to spin the boat around, and thanks to my crew and everyone else, we were able to swing by and pick them up and safely get them out of the water,” Captain Brandon Viets told CBS 8 San Diago.
A photo shows the two pilots in their soaked jumpsuits on the fishing boat moments after they were pulled from the harbor water.
Viets said both of the pilots were conscious and “coherent” when they were brought onboard.
One of the crew members, Colin Casper, told Fox 5 San Diego that they “seemed a little shaken up,” but they were more concerned with checking on “each other” after being pulled to safety.
Casper recalled seeing the jet flying in the air while both pilots were already on their boat.
“I looked over and saw the jet flying without pilots, without the cockpit on it,” he shared.
Viets shared they picked up the pilots about a quarter mile away from where the jet crashed.
Both pilots were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest and were said to be in stable condition.
The jet was based at the Naval Air Station North Island, a station that specializes in Navy aircraft.
Harbor officials have cordoned off the waters around the crash site and are trying to contain any oil or fuel spills. Naval Base Coronado is leading the investigation of the crash.
The crash was the latest incident involving the $67 million Growler in recent months.
In October, another Navy EA-18G Growler crashed near Mt. Rainier in Washington – killing both pilots.
The Navy has flown Growlers, operated by two pilots, for the last 15 years and has deployed them for operations worldwide.
“The EA-18G Growler aircraft we fly represents the most advanced technology in airborne Electronic Attack and stands as the Navy’s first line of defense in hostile environments,” the Navy has said about the jet.
