U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler Crashes Into San Diego Bay

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler crashed into the waters of San Diego Bay near Point Loma on February 12, prompting an immediate emergency response.

The incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. local time, with both pilots ejecting before impact and being rescued shortly after.

The aircraft went down near Naval Air Station North Island, a key base for military aviation. First responders from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department initially arrived at the scene but were soon replaced by federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy personnel, and Harbor Police. A nearby fishing boat crew quickly retrieved the pilots from the water and transferred them to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection vessel. The pilots were then taken to UC San Diego Health for medical evaluation.

According to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard officials, the pilots were reported to be stable. Authorities have not released further details about their conditions.

The Navy has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Officials have not indicated whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or other factors contributed to the incident. Harbor Police have established a security perimeter around the crash site, and Navy teams are working to remove debris and prevent fuel leakage into the bay. As of late afternoon, the aircraft remained submerged.

The EA-18G Growler, an electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, is equipped with radar-jamming technology. The aircraft was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington. It remains unclear whether it was departing from or returning to North Island at the time of the crash.

This crash follows another EA-18G Growler accident on October 15, 2024, near Mount Rainier, Washington, where two naval aviators lost their lives. The aircraft, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130, crashed during a routine training mission. The wreckage was discovered the next day, and the identities of the pilots were confirmed a week later.