At around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, aerial search crews located the wreckage of the EA-18G Growler that crashed on Oct. 15 east of Mount Rainier during routine training. The status of the two crew members in the aircraft is unknown while the search continues, according to a press release.

The wreckage rests at approximately 6,000 feet altitude in a remote, steep and heavily-wooded area east of Mount Rainier.

Soldiers from 1st Special Forces Group based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are assisting in the search with specialized mountaineering, high-angle rescue, medical and technical communication skills necessary to navigate the difficult terrain.The status of the crew cannot be confirmed without a site assessment of the debris area.

“Our priority is to locate our two aviators as quickly and as safely as possible,” said Capt. David Ganci, commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “Adhering to Dept. of Defense procedure, we cannot identify or confirm the names of aircrew involved in a mishap until 24-hours after their next of kin have been notified of their status. Please remain patient and limit speculation about the incident. That is one of the best ways we can respect the privacy of the loved ones who are impacted by this tragic event.”

Officials established an emergency operations center on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The Navy worked in coordination with Yakima County tribal and local authorities to search for the crashed aircraft and its aviators.

Aerial search units launched from Whidbey and continued through the night, scouring the area 30 miles west of Yakima. Mountainous terrain, cloudy weather and low visibility presented challenges.

Additional units include Air Reconnaissance Squadron One, Patrol Squadron, NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, and Army 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

At 3:23 p.m. yesterday, the Boeing-made aircraft from Electronic Attack Squadron 130 crashed east of the mountain during a routine training flight. The cause of the crash is unknown and under investigation.

Multiple search and rescue assets, including a U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter, launched from NAS Whidbey Island to locate the crew and examine the crash site.

“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,” Ganci said. “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.”

According to the press release, “Zappers” of VAQ-130 are based at NAS Whidbey Island and recently completed a combat deployment on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as the only E/A-18G Growler squadron with Carrier Air Wing 3. It is the oldest electronic warfare squadron in the Navy.

VAQ-130 adopted the nickname “Zappers” and the Zapper Dragon insignia when the squadron was originally commissioned as Carrier Early Warning Squadron 13, flying AD-5Qs in 1959.

The EA-18G Growler is a variant in the F/A-18 family of aircraft that combines the proven F/A-18F Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. All EA-18G squadrons are stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, with the exception of one squadron (VAQ-141) attached to CVW-5, Forward Deployed Naval Force, based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

Whidbey Island welcomed home the Zappers in July, following a combat deployment as the only where an aircraft scored its first-ever air-to-air kill battling the Houthis.

The deployment started as a seven-month mission to the Mediterranean Sea with an additional two months in the Middle East. Then, on Oct. 7, Hamas attacked Israel, and the squadron switched course, where they would spend the next eight months.

The Zappers supported Operation Prosperity Guardian through the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Stait and Gulf of Aden. In Operation Yukon Lightning, Zappers executed nearly 700 combat missions to hinder Houthis, who control territory in Yemen and are backed by Iran, from attacking cargo ships.

Growlers, unlike the EA-6B Prowler, hold air-to-air offensive weapons in addition to electronic jamming capabilities.

The squadron continued to make history. Within a week of this event, official clearance was given for Growlers to carry AIM-9X, an infrared weapon carried by F/A-18 Super Hornets.

“We appreciate the community support as experienced personnel respond around the crash site,” said Capt. Nathan Gammache, commanding officer of NAS Whidbey Island. “We are confident that we have the capability we need at this time, and will request any additional capabilities, if needed, via official channels in coordination with the on-site incident commander.”