A US Navy EA-18G Growler crashed into the waters of San Diego Bay near Point Loma this morning, prompting a swift rescue operation that led to the recovery of two pilots. According to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, the incident was reported at 10:16 AM, with the first response unit arriving by 10:25 AM. The crash site was located off the coast near 1561 Shelter Island Drive, per a San Diego Fire-Rescue incident sheet.
The downed aircraft was confirmed as an E/A-18 G Growler by a U.S. Navy spokesperson, and both ejected pilots were swiftly rescued from the water. Initially aided by a fishing boat following their ejection, the pilots were only in the water for a minute before being picked up and then transferred to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat on the scene, ABC 10News reports. They were subsequently taken to UC San Diego Health and are stable.
Emergency crews, including the U.S. Coast Guard and Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department, responded to the incident and addressed the resulting debris and potential for fuel spillage. “Both personnel are in stable condition. Naval Base Coronado has stood up an Emergency Operations Center in response to the mishap, and assessment of the crash site is ongoing,” according to a statement obtained by USNI News. It was also mentioned that the Growler was participating in an exercise but was not part of the air wing, which is currently training with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.
