EA-18 Jets collide during Mountain Home Airshow but land safely

Two EA-18 jets collide at Mountain Home airshow on Sunday in a dramatic mid-air crash that drew gasps from spectators and immediately triggered an emergency response at the base. The collision involved two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft from Electronic Attack Squadron 129, based at Whidbey Island, Washington. Moreover, the aircraft were performing a live aerial demonstration when the collision occurred.

All four crew members ejected from both jets safely. Furthermore, their parachutes deployed successfully and all four airmen descended to the ground without reported life-threatening injuries. Medical personnel evaluated each crew member at the scene following the incident.

What witnesses saw in the sky

Spectator Shane Ogden captured the entire event on video. He was filming the two jets as they flew close together during the performance. Moreover, his footage shows the aircraft making contact before spinning together in tandem. The crew members ejected moments later and four parachutes opened clearly in the sky above the base.

The planes then fell together and exploded into a fireball on impact with the ground. Additionally, the video spread rapidly across social media within minutes of the crash occurring. Ogden said he left the area quickly after filming to avoid getting in the way of emergency responders rushing to the scene.

Visibility conditions at the time of the crash were reportedly good. However, the National Weather Service noted wind gusts reaching up to 29 mph around Mountain Home Air Force Base during the airshow. Consequently, investigators will examine whether wind conditions played any role in the collision.

The airshow and its history at Mountain Home

The Gunfighter Skies event at Mountain Home Air Force Base draws large crowds each year. This year’s edition was the first at the base since 2018. That previous event also ended in tragedy when a hang glider died during an airshow performance. Furthermore, the 2026 show featured the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as the headline demonstration squadron across both days of the event.

Silver Wings of Idaho helped organize the airshow this year. Kim Sykes, the marketing director for the organization, confirmed that nobody on the ground at the base was injured during the crash. Additionally, she emphasized that the safety of everyone present was the top priority.

The base locked down immediately following the collision. Consequently, Idaho Transportation officials closed State Highway 167 from Simco Road to State Highway 67 near the base. Authorities expect that closure to last multiple days as the investigation continues.

Airshow safety record in context

The U.S. airshow industry has made significant safety improvements over the past decade. John Cudahy, president and CEO of the International Council of Air Shows, noted that the average number of deaths at U.S. airshows has dropped from about two per year to closer to one per year over the last 10 years. Moreover, there were no airshow deaths in either 2024 or 2025.

The last fatal crash at a U.S. airshow occurred in 2022. Two vintage military planes collided at an event in Dallas, killing six people. Additionally, no spectator has died at a U.S. airshow since 1952. Therefore, Sunday’s collision at Mountain Home is notable not only for its dramatic footage but also because it came during a period of historically strong airshow safety performance.

Mountain Home Air Force Base also has its own prior history with airshow incidents. In 2003, a Thunderbirds aircraft crashed during a maneuver at the base. The pilot ejected less than a second before the plane hit the ground. However, the pilot was not hurt and no spectators were injured in that incident either.