18.05.2026 15:00
Pilots parachuted to safety after jets collided at an air show in Idaho, USA, narrowly escaping disaster.
During an air show in the U.S. state of Idaho, horrifying moments were captured on camera as two military jets collided in midair and crashed to the ground in a fireball.
In the heart-stopping accident, a total of four crew members onboard the aircraft managed to eject using their ejection seats and parachute to safety. The miraculous survival of the pilots, seen descending from the sky before the eyes of attendees, highlighted a narrow escape from disaster.
According to initial reports, the midair collision of the military jets occurred around 12:10 p.m. local time, just two miles northwest of the air base. In the terrifying footage that quickly spread on social media, the two aircraft are clearly seen losing balance after contact, tumbling, and crashing to the ground with a massive explosion within seconds.
It was announced that the jets involved in the accident were two EA-18G Growler combat aircraft from the inventory of the U.S. Navy's "Vikings" demonstration team. The EA-18G Growler, a special variant of the F/A-18 fighter jets, are highly advanced military aircraft used for critical electronic warfare missions, such as detecting and jamming enemy radar positions.
The majority of these Growler squadrons under the U.S. Navy are normally based on Whidbey Island in Washington state. However, the aircraft had temporarily moved to Idaho for the major military show in the region.
After the crash, thousands of spectators filling the show area experienced great panic and grief, but around 1:00 p.m., an announcement over the tower sound system brought relief to hearts. The show host announced that all four Navy pilots were safe and sound.
The announcement at the field included the following statements: "We saw all four parachutes deploy successfully. Our crew managed to eject from the aircraft in time thanks to their ejection seats. They are currently located one mile south of where the smoke is rising. The parachutes landed safely." In a follow-up announcement, the host summarized the situation by saying, "Crash recovery, firefighting, and all other emergency teams are on their way to reach our pilots and crew. In our world, seeing all four parachutes deploy is always the greatest consolation. If you feel moved, please say a prayer for them now."