Navy locates downed jet in remote cascades; crew fate uncertain
The US Navy has discovered the wreckage of a fighter jet that crashed during a routine training flight in Washington, a state in the northwestern region of the United States. The fate of the crew remains unknown, as reported by the AP agency on Thursday.
Aboard the EA-18G Growler fighter jet, specifically designed for electronic warfare, were two servicemen: a pilot and an operator. It is currently unclear whether they managed to eject from the aircraft.
The crash occurred in the Cascade Mountains. Mount Rainier, the highest peak in this range, reaches nearly 14,436 feet above sea level. The aircraft went down in a remote, densely forested area, making the wreckage inaccessible by vehicle.
Rescue operations are being carried out using helicopters. Snowfalls are forecast over the weekend in the Cascade Mountains region.
Cost of a fighter jet is 67 million dollars
"The EA-18G Growler aircraft we operate utilise the most advanced technology in the field of airborne electronic warfare and serve as the frontline defence of the Navy in hostile environments," the US Naval Forces state on their website. The cost of one such fighter jet is approximately 67 million dollars.
