Two naval aviators died when their EA-18G Growler jet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state during a routine training mission on Saturday.
Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, of Palmdale, California, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, 31, of California, were assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The Navy confirmed both crew members perished on Sunday and transitioned search operations to recovery efforts.
What Happened
The aircraft went down in steep, heavily wooded terrain at approximately 6,000 feet east of Mount Rainier. Wreckage was located a day after the crash in a remote, forested area that complicated recovery operations.
Federal investigators are working to determine the cause of the accident. The exact circumstances that led to the loss of the $67 million aircraft remain under investigation, the Navy said.
Who They Were
Evans, a Naval Flight Officer, made history in 2023 as part of the first all-female flyover at Super Bowl LVII, celebrating five decades of women in naval aviation. Wileman, commissioned as a Naval Aviator in 2018, joined the Zappers three years later and received multiple commendations including the Navy Unit Commendation Medal and Combat Action Ribbon.
“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.”
The Response
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the National Guard to provide continuous security at the crash site while Navy teams prepare for a long-term salvage operation. U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who had previously met Evans during a base visit, described her as “a pioneering leader who broke barriers and made history.”
Murray also extended condolences to Wileman’s family, stating that both aviators “paved the way for generations of women who will follow in their footsteps.” The EA-18G Growler, derived from the F/A-18 Super Hornet, serves as the Navy’s front-line electronic warfare platform and has operated globally since arriving at Whidbey Island in 2008.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.
