THIS is the horror moment a US Navy jet plunges into the sea just seconds after its two pilots ejected. The plane, a E/A-18G Growler Electronic Warfare aircraft, dived into San Diego Bay not far from the naval base it was coming into land at at around 10.15am local time on Wednesday. A shocking clip shows the jet dive into the water nose first at high speed sending a large plume of water and "muck" into the sky.
![[US military jet crashing into San Diego Bay.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/splash-landing-horror-moment-us-971597543.jpg?strip=all&w=850)
Both pilots were luckily not injured and were quickly rescued by a fishing boat, the Coast Guard confirmed. The jet was reportedly coming into land at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego Bay, according to the Navy. Navy spokesperson Commander Beth Teach said the crash occurred during what is known as a “go-around maneuver,” in which the aircraft landed and was taking off again. The captain of the fishing boat, Brandon Viets, said he had taken guests on a fishing trip when he heard a jet take off near the naval base, AP reported.
![[Screenshot of a military jet crashing into the ocean.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/splash-landing-horror-moment-us-971597879.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Viets said the plane “seemed a little louder than normal” and by the time he turned around to look, he could see two parachutes in the air. The Growler was flying "super low" and remained in the air for a couple of minutes before it dived into the water, he said. The 30-year-old said: “I watched them touch water, and I told my crew, ‘We got to go.’”. “We spin the boat around and raced over there.”.
![[U.S. Navy boats cleaning up an oil spill.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/u-s-navy-boats-work-971475196.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Just as Viets arrived at the pilots, the jet had slammed into the water. Viets said the plume of "water and mud and muck" was 70 to 80 feet tall. The two pilots were taken to hospital in a stable condition with the Navy now working to remove the plane from the water. An investigation has been launched into the crash - which happened when San Diego Bay was rainy and misty. The plane has a price tag of $86 million, according to the Navy.
![[Rescued pilots on a boat.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/image-provided-premier-sportsfishing-shows-971508881.jpg?strip=all&w=383)
