<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1GomUv_0w9sJDaB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1GomUv_0w9sJDaB00" width="1320" height="743" >WASHINGTON — Crews have located the wreckage of a Navy aircraft Wednesday afternoon that crashed near Mount Rainier.Aerial search crews found the crash site of the EA-18G Growler around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on a “mountainside east of Mount Rainier,” according to Naval Air Station North Island. The jet crashed in a “remote area that is not accessible by motorized vehicles.”The EA-18G Growler crashed around 3:23 p.m. Tuesday during a "routine training flight.”The two crew members who were onboard the Growler at the time were still unaccounted for as of 4 p.m. Wednesday. A Navy spokesperson said the search effort for the missing crew members will continue.The Navy said an emergency operations center has been established at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to coordinate response efforts. Naval Air Station North Island said preparations are being made to send crews to the crash site and secure the area.“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, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “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 Navy requested assistance from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office's search and rescue team to help locate the aircraft and missing crew members, YCSO Public Information Officer Casey Schilperoort told KOMO News on Wednesday.Schilperoort said two teams were searching, but he added the YCSO planned to request help from other regional search and rescue teams to fill in during rest periods.In addition to the sheriff's office, NASWI Public Affairs Officer Mike Weldingother units joined the search and rescue operation, including U.S. Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), Patrol Squadron (VP-46), NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, and U.S. Army 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).The Growler jet that crashed is from “The Zappers," otherwise known as Electronic Attack Squadron 130 or VAQ-130.All Growler squadrons are based at NASWI, with the exception of one squadron (VAQ-141) at Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan.The NASWI said the VAQ-130 recently completed a combat deployment on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as the only E/A-18G Growler squadron with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3.The cause of the crash is still under investigation.</div></body>

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Wreckage of crashed Navy jet found near Mount Rainier, search continues for 2 crew members

WASHINGTON — Crews have located the wreckage of a Navy aircraft Wednesday afternoon that crashed near Mount Rainier. Aerial search crews found the crash site of the EA-18G Growler around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on a “mountainside east of Mount Rainier,” according to Naval Air Station North Island. The jet crashed in a “remote area that is not accessible by motorized vehicles.”