Two Navy Pilots Declared Dead in Washington State

Two Navy pilots involved in a crash in Washington state earlier this week have been declared dead, the U.S. Navy announced on Sunday.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” commanding officer of the aviators’ Electronic Attack Squadron 130, Timothy Warburton, said in a press release shared with Newsweek.
In its statement, the Navy announced that “Electronic Attack Wing Pacific has shifted from search and rescue efforts to recovery operations,” noting that “personnel on site continue to search the expansive area, recovering debris and planning for the long-term salvage and recovery effort.”
The names of the individuals will not be released until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified in accordance with Navy policy.
The naval aviators, who flew a two-seater EA-18G Growler jet, were part of Electronic Attack Squadron 130 based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, nearly 80 miles north of Seattle.
Around 3:20 p.m. PDT on October 15, the pilots crashed in a remote area east of Mount Rainier “during a routine training flight,” the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island base said in a statement shortly after the crash.
The base is home to all U.S. Navy tactical electronic warfare squadrons operating the Growler in the United States, with the military describing Electronic Attack Squadron 130 as the oldest such squadron in the Navy.
The “Zappers” recently returned from a deployment on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was stationed in the Middle East from November 2023 to June 2024.
Multiple search and rescue teams, including a U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter, were dispatched to locate and examine the crash site immediately. Specialized mountaineering groups assisted in the search.
The following day, crews were met with cloudy weather and low visibility.
However, around 12:30 p.m. PDT on Wednesday crews located the crash site at about “6,000 feet altitude in a remote, steep and heavily-wooded area east of Mount Rainer.” Mount Rainer, a volcano, has 25 major glaciers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
On the evening of October 18, the U.S. Navy, partner agencies, and local law enforcement reached the crash site. “Finding the aircrew continues to be our primary focus,” the Navy said in a statement at the time.
“Our priority right now is taking care of the families of our fallen aviators, and ensuring the well-being of our Sailors and the Growler community. We are grateful for the ongoing teamwork to safely recover the deceased,” Warburton said in his Sunday statement.
The cause of crash is still under investigation.