Two Navy aviators died when their EA-18G Growler jet crashed near Mount Rainier during a routine training mission on Sunday.
The aircraft went down in rugged, heavily wooded terrain east of the mountain in Washington state. Federal investigators are working to determine the cause of the accident.
Who Were the Aviators
Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, of Palmdale, California, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, 31, of California, were both assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Evans, a Naval Flight Officer, was part of the first all-female flyover at Super Bowl LVII in 2023, which honored five decades of women in naval aviation. Wileman, commissioned in 2018, earned multiple military awards during her service.
The Search and Recovery
The wreckage was discovered a day after the crash at approximately 6,000 feet in steep terrain that complicated recovery efforts. By Sunday, the Navy confirmed both aviators had died and shifted operations from search-and-rescue to recovery.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the National Guard to provide round-the-clock security at the site while Navy teams prepared for a long-term salvage effort.
Tributes and Investigation
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the loss of two cherished Zappers,” said Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, the squadron’s commanding officer. “Our priority is supporting their families, our sailors, and the Growler community.”
U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who had met Evans during a previous base visit, described her as “a pioneering leader who broke barriers and made history.” The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Military and Aviation teams contributed to this report.