A couple of navy pilots had a pretty terrifying morning when their plane went down in the water near Shelter Island in San Diego Bay. It happened around 10:16 a.m., and by 10:42, the military confirmed it was just the two of them onboard.
Luckily, nobody died, and both pilots were taken to a local hospital. No word yet on how they’re doing, but they’re alive, which is what matters.
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Military plane crashes near Shelter Island
Turns out, the plane was a Boeing EA-18G Growler, according to the U.S. Navy. The Coast Guard said the pilots were actually underwater for a full minute, but somehow, they made it out okay.
The crash site left a “large debris field” not far from Naval Air Station North Island, part of Naval Base Coronado.
Pilots eject just before the crash and survive
The pilots managed to eject from the plane just a minute before it hit the water, the Navy told CBS News. It was around 10:17 a.m. when they bailed.
They were the only ones on board, flying the EA-18G Growler, which is like a sibling to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Both of them made it out alive and stable, and they were rushed off to the hospital for care.
A fishing crew quickly rescues the pilots
Talk about being in the right place at the right time — a fishing boat called the Premier, from a local charter company, was nearby and saw the pilots eject. The crew steered straight toward them and pulled them out of the water within a minute.
“Upon observing the pilots eject, the crew of the Premier quickly navigated toward the pilots before they even hit the water,” H&M Landing said in a statement.
Frank Ursitti, the company’s GM, said, “We are relieved and grateful to have had one of our vessels in the right place at the right time.”
Authorities coordinate their emergency response
After the fishing crew did their part, a Customs and Border Protection boat came along and took over. The Coast Guard said the transfer went smoothly.
San Diego officials were actually sending a dive team to the scene, but they turned back when they heard the pilots were safe.
Traffic and infrastructure are affected by the crash
The crash left a big mess behind. That “large debris field” near Naval Air Station North Island became a concern, and police had to step in.
The San Diego Police Department handled traffic around the area while officials assessed the situation.
Rescuers reflect on the successful operation
For the folks involved, it was a good day despite the scary start. Frank Ursitti from H&M Landing summed it up best: “We are relieved and grateful to have had one of our vessels in the right place at the right time.”
The whole thing showed how quick thinking and teamwork can make a huge difference when things go wrong out at sea.
Let’s hope this is the last time a plane takes a dip in the bay. Safe skies, everyone!
