US navy locates downed fighter jet in Washington mountains
The US Navy has found the wreckage of a fighter jet that crashed during a routine training flight in Washington State, in the northwestern part of the country. The fate of the crew remains unknown, the AP agency reported on Thursday.
17 October 2024 16:03
On board the EA-18G Growler fighter jet, designed for electronic warfare, were two servicemen: a pilot and an operator. It is unknown if they managed to eject.
The crash occurred in the Cascade Mountains. The highest peak in this range, Mount Rainier, is nearly 4,400 metres above sea level. The aircraft crashed in a difficult-to-access, densely forested area, and the wreckage cannot be reached by any vehicle.
Search operations are being conducted using helicopters. Snowfalls are expected over the weekend in the area of the Cascade Mountains.
The cost of one fighter jet is $67 million
"The EA-18G Growler aircraft we fly utilise the most advanced technology in the field of airborne electronic warfare and represent the frontline defence of the Navy in a hostile environment," the US naval forces report on their website. The cost of one such fighter jet is approximately $67 million.
