WHIDBEY ISLAND STATION, Wash. — Search efforts are still underway for two Navy airmen who were on board an aircraft that crashed near Mount Rainier Tuesday afternoon.
Aerial search crews located the wreckage of the crash east of Mount Rainier, but the condition of the two people who were on the flight is still unknown.
According to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island officials, the flight took off from Oak Harbor Tuesday afternoon and the crash was reported at 3:23 p.m.
The crash site involving a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler, an electronic warfare aircraft, is on a mountainside east of Mount Rainier.
NAS Whidbey Island has sent multiple search and rescue assets, including a helicopter, to try to locate the crew and examine the crash site. The Navy is now preparing to deploy personnel to the site, which is inaccessible by vehicle.
“I am thankful for the tremendous teamwork displayed by the NAS Whidbey Island squadrons -- VAQ, VP, VQ, TOCRON 10 and SAR -- as Team Whidbey continues to respond to our tragic mishap,” said Capt. David Ganci, commander of the Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a release. "I am also grateful to local law enforcement, responders, and tribal communities whose partnership has been essential in planning our critical next steps for access to the site.”
The Yakima County Sheriff's Office also sent two ground crews to search for the Growler.
The terrain is mountainous. Wednesday's cloudy weather also made for low visibility, according to the sheriff's office.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
Even with things looking grim, retired Lt. Commander Howard Gulley, who flew for 60 years in the Navy, warns us all not to jump to conclusions about what's happened to the two still unidentified crew members. And says no matter what happens, the families of those aviators will be well supported.
"Everybody will chime in and help that family out the best they can. They're not forgotten," Gulley said.
All EA-18G squadrons are stationed at Whidbey Island, with the exception of one squadron in Iwakuni, Japan.
The last fatal jet crash at NAS Whidbey was March 11, 2013. Three aviators were killed. The cause was determined to be pilot error.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.