EA-6B Prowler
Posted on 07/21/2004 3:29:01 PM PDT by johnfrink
Two F-18 military jets collided in midair above the Columbia River in the Arlington area, scattering debris and causing a fiery explosion, according to witnesses and the Gilliam Co. Sheriff's Office.
Witnesses said the military jets that collided looked like this Navy F-18 Hornet.
Authorities said at least two people have been recovered at the scene and parachutes were also spotted, indicating that some crew members may have ejected.
Witnesses said it appeared that at least one person was killed in the crash.
Oregon State Police, detectives with the Gilliam Co. Sheriff’s Office and a rescue boat are on the scene.. More to come...
Prayers for them whoever they are. Clear air collisions seem strange, but close formations must be difficult to fly.
Some news over here that's just happening
The word we got earlier here at the FAA is that it was 2 f-18's and that shoots had been spotted..
Thanks! Do you have link? Google news search (for “Columbia River”) does not show this.
Update;
A lone E-6 Prowler exploded over the Columbia Gorge east of The Dalles this afternoon, and at least one pilot appears to have survived. It was initially reported that two Navy F-18 fighter jets collided. But Salesky said there were two Prowlers in the area. After one plane exploded, the other Prowler circled the area.
Out of Whidbey Island?
Prowler has a crew of 4.
EA-6B Prowler
Marine Air station Miramar out of San Diego.
2 dead, two hospitalized.
KPTV, said the planes were out of San Diego
This is weird, because another Portland news website says:
"The FAA says two Navy F-18 fighter jets crashed around 2:30 p.m. near Arlington Oregon.
Those jets are based out of Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego and the fighter group is in Portland on a training mission."
So it is either 2 F-18s or one E-6. Odd.
Exploded? Loose Fan blade hitting fuel tank?
Prayers on the way.
If the weather was clear, how do two planes just collide? The skies are plenty big... something's up here.
Most likely senario is that two F/A-18s did collide and crash, then an EA-6B that was in the area located the wreckage and stayed on station.
Live streaming coverage:
http://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_kgw
prayers for the crew and their families...
I'm in a Air Guard unit out of the Portland airport. We get many Navy and Marine F-18's and EA6's flying in and out on training missions. My prayers go out for the pilots and their families.
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