Fighter jets collide mid-air at US Air Force show

In a series of posts on social media, Mountain Home Air Force Base confirmed the accident during the Gunfighter Skies air show for the public.

Social media showed two fighter jets crashing into each other in mid-air before all four people ejected and activated their parachutes.

“The condition of the aircrew involved in the incident is good,” a report said.

A fire caused by the crash was also safely contained, the base confirmed.

The base was closed after the incident, but has since reopened so guests can leave.

The collision involved two U.S. Navy EA18-G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 on Whidbey Island, Washington, said Commander Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for the Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Shane Ogden said he was filming the two jets when they came close to each other.

A video he captured shows the two planes appearing to make contact and then spinning together as the crew members eject and their parachutes open.

The planes then collapse and explode on impact in a fireball as the crew members fall to the ground nearby.

“I was only filming because I thought they were going to break up and they did and I filmed the rest,” Ogden said in a text message. He said he left shortly after the crash because he didn’t want to get in the way of emergency services.

This year’s Gunfighter Skies event was the first at the base since 2018, when a hang glider was killed in a crash during an air show.

With associated press.

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