The U.S. Navy warned the public Feb. 13 to stay away from any debris that may wash ashore after a fighter jet crashed in San Diego Bay while attempting to land.
“The public is asked to remain clear of the area and not interfere with the recovery,” the Navy said in a statement.
Some pieces of debris may resemble weapons or classified components, and may present a hazard if handled, according to the Navy.
Two military pilots ejected and were rescued by a sportfishing boat before being sent to a hospital for a medical assessment, the Navy reported.
Both were in good condition and placed under a 24-hour observation, according to the Navy.
The Navy is coordinating the aircraft’s retrieval, while the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One is leading salvaging operations.
Recovery efforts focus on removing the aircraft from the water “as quickly as possible while minimizing environmental impact,” the Navy said.
Harbor security boats were on site to secure the crash area Wednesday night. A containment boom was placed to minimize the spread of fuel and debris. Environmental and safety teams were also working to mitigate impacts, the Navy reported.
There were no reports of civilian injuries or damage.
The Navy base’s emergency operation center remained active Thursday as the investigation into the cause of the crash continued.
The aircraft was assigned to the Electronic Attack Squadron, which is based at the Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island in Washington state. It was attempting to land at Naval Air Station North Island on the Coronado peninsula in San Diego.
The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/Z-18 aircraft family. The aircraft is equipped with sophisticated electronic warfare technology and can perform a wide range of enemy defense suppression actions.
Some of the technology on board includes communications jamming and electronically scanned array radar.
