Navy Jets Collide: Pilots’ Daring Escape Caught On Video
on May 18, 2026
Video From The Air Show Shows The Planes Collide Before Descending To The Ground Below
The Gunfighter Skies Air Show held at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho on Sunday, May 17, was canceled after two Navy jets collided.
Both of the aviators aboard each fighter jet were able to safely eject before the planes plummeted and exploded in a field below.
In dramatic video from the incident, the two Navy EA-18G Growler fighter jets can be seen colliding before stalling.
At that point, the four aviators aboard the planes ejected, with their parachutes keeping them afloat. All four were reported to be in stable condition.
Watch the shocking moment, here, and learn more about the planes and response to the incident, below:
Footage of the mid air collision between a pair of Navy Super Hornets/Growlers during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base moments ago. pic.twitter.com/yQqPavmSWk
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) May 17, 2026
Made by Boeing, the Navy EA-18G Growler is meant to take off from an aircraft carrier, and it is a specialized version of Boeing’s F/A-18F Super Hornet.
According to a statement given to NBC News, the fighter jets were assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 from Whidbey Island, Washington.
Here are two harrowing photographs taken of the incident:
My buddy Henk Zuurbier took these from Mountain Home today. Glad both Crews were able to jump out.@CWLemoine pic.twitter.com/qiHSCGhRTV
— Phil Landram (@KC135BOOMER) May 17, 2026
In a statement released by Col. David R. Gunther, wing commander with the 366th Fighter Wing, he said, “First and foremost, we are incredibly thankful that everyone involved in today’s incident is safe.”
He also went on to express his gratitude to the first responders.
See his full message, here:
First responders, as listed in a separate post, included Idaho State Police, St. Luke’s, Elmore County Sheriff’s Department, Mountain Home Police Department, Mountain Home Fire Department, Mountain Home Rural Fire Department, as well as EMS and other personnel.
“You all showed what it means to be a Gunfighter,” the statement said of the first responders.
Mountain Home Air Force Base is home to the 366th Fighter Wing, which is nicknamed the Gunfighters.
Notably, the day before this crash, an event with the parachute team The Wings of Blue was canceled due to strong winds.
Watch the Navy EA-18G Growler in action at a recent airshow in Tennessee, here:
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