A fishing vessel arrived at the scene of a crash of a Navy fighter jet in San Diego Harbor and successfully rescued the two pilots who had ejected just moments after landing in the water.
The aircraft, confirmed by a Navy official as an EA-18G Growler—an iteration of the F/A-18F Super Hornet—experienced a malfunction in low visibility conditions and went down around 10:17 a.m. near Naval Air Station North Island, located at Naval Base Coronado. The two pilots were the sole occupants of the aircraft.
According to U.S. Navy officials speaking to CBS News, both pilots managed to safely eject from the aircraft, which did not carry any other personnel. Navy boats immediately initiated a search, and the pilots’ parachutes were detected by the crew aboard the Premier, a fishing charter. H&M Landing, the ownership company of the vessel, reported that the Premier’s crew spotted the pilots before they even reached the water.
“Fortunately, we were there to turn the boat around, and with the help of my crew and others, we were able to swing by and pick them up and safely retrieve them from the water,” stated Brandon Viets, the captain of the ship. The Associated Press noted that Viets had 12 passengers on board for a fishing excursion at the time.
The swift action of the Premier ensured that the pilots spent only about a minute in the 50-degree waters, according to officials.
“We are thankful and relieved that one of our vessels was in the right spot at the right time,” expressed Frank Ursitti, the general manager of H&M Landing, in a statement to CBS News. “Captain Brandon Viets and the crew of the Premier displayed remarkable promptness, enabling them to bring these pilots to safety.”
Upon arriving, the fishing boat was met by a small U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations vessel that had been present when the crash occurred. The rescued pilots received evaluations and were taken to a nearby hospital, where both were reported to be in stable condition. They are undergoing 24-hour medical observation as a precaution, according to a Navy spokesperson.
As of Thursday morning, the aircraft was still submerged in the harbor, with response teams actively assessing the situation, according to a Navy spokesperson. The wreckage created a “large debris field,” the police reported. Crews promptly established containment lines in the bay to filter out debris, including any gas or oil that may have leaked from the downed aircraft.
“Any time there is an aircraft accident like this, there’s concern regarding the potential maritime environmental impact,” remarked Lt. Daniel Moen from the San Diego Harbor Police Department to CBS News.
The Navy is currently investigating the cause of the crash. The public has been asked to refrain from approaching, touching, or collecting any debris that may wash ashore, and any suspected debris should be reported to the authorities.
