Four crew members ejected safely after two Navy jets collided during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho on Sunday.
Details of the aircraft collision
The collision involved two U.S. Navy EA16-G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129, based in Whidbey Island, Washington, according to Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Medical status and base lockdown
All four crew members were being evaluated by medical personnel following the incident, Umayam said. Kim Sykes, marketing director with Silver Wings of Idaho, noted that no one at the military base was injured during the crash.
The Mountain Home Air Force Base entered a lockdown following the incident, according to a social media post from the base. Witnesses reported seeing four parachutes opening in the sky as the aircraft fell near the base, which is located approximately 50 miles south of Boise.
Weather conditions during the crash
The National Weather Service reported good visibility and winds gusting up to 29 mph at the time of the crash.
Utah drought emergency declaration
In a separate development in southeastern Utah, the Grand County Commission unanimously approved a drought emergency declaration on Tuesday, May 19. The measure aims to address severe dry conditions affecting agriculture and wildfire risks.
Impact on local agriculture and assistance
Grand County Emergency Management Director Kate Sandersen stated that the county's declaration is retroactive to April 1, intended to help local farmers and ranchers qualify for emergency assistance. This follows a statewide drought emergency declaration issued by Governor Spencer Cox on May 21.
Record-low snowpack and drought levels
According to data from the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction, Colorado, snow monitoring sites in the La Sal Mountains reached record-low snow water equivalent by March 11. Director Kate Finley noted that March was the fifth driest March in 132 years of recordkeeping.
All of Grand County is currently classified as being in extreme drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
