Midair collision sparks crash at Idaho air show; crews ejected and ‘found safe’
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Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally posted at 1:16 p.m. Sunday and has been updated.
MOUNTAIN HOME (Idaho Statesman) –While watching aerial performances at the Gunfighter Skies air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base, those in the crowd of thousands stood and began pointing to a thick plume of black smoke rising in the sky.
Two of the performing aircraft collided midair 2 miles northwest of the base, a spokesperson with the Mountain Home Air Force Base 366th Fighter Wing told the Idaho Statesman.
An announcer told the crowd shortly after 1 p.m. that all four Navy pilots involved were “found safe.”
Footage of the mid air collision between a pair of Navy Super Hornets/Growlers during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base moments ago. pic.twitter.com/yQqPavmSWk
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) May 17, 2026
The crash occurred at about 12:10 p.m. during a performance involving two E/A-18G “Vikings” Growler demo team aircraft flown by four pilots from the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 from Whidbey Island, according to a 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office news release.
Four parachutes could be seen in the sky near the crash scene. One Idaho Statesman reporter in attendance saw the parachutes and what appeared to be sparks in the sky.
“All four of the air crew successfully ejected and they are being evaluated by medical personnel,” the 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office said in a news release sent at 3:18 p.m. “First responders are on the scene.”
An air show announcer kept the crowd calm in the immediate aftermath of the crash, telling attendees that the parachutes were a promising sign.
“We had four good parachutes,” an air show announcer told the crowd. “The crews were able to eject. They’re located 1 mile south of where the smoke is. The parachutes came down.”
A follow-up announcement provided more details: “Crash fire rescue and various other emergency services are on their way to the pilots and crew. There were four good parachutes. That is always a positive in our world. If you are so inclined to take the time now to say a prayer.”
The emergency response from the base included a helicopter sent to the scene.
This was the first time Gunfighter Skies had been held in eight years. A hang glider pilot died in an accident at that 2018 event. In 2003, a Thunderbird crashed but the pilot was able to eject at the Mountain Home air show.
Attendees were instructed not to leave the base. Emergency crews needed to have the area clear to respond to the crews and control a brush fire that was sparked by the crash, according to an announcement.
The base announced they were canceling the remainder of the show at about 2:30 p.m.
“Emergency responders are on the scene, an investigation is underway and more details will be released as they become available,” the 366th Fighter Wing said in a news release.
The 366th Fighter Wing noted in the release that the EA-18G Growler aircraft involved is a “variant in the F/A-18 family of aircraft that combines the proven F/A-18 F Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite.”
The Mountain Home Air Force Base did not immediately respond to the Idaho Statesman’s questions about the condition of the pilots or the cause of the crash.