San Diego plane crash: Harrowing video shows military plane fall from sky

A U.S. military aircraft crashed off the San Diego coast in California on Wednesday during a so-called “go-around maneuver” in which the plane landed and was taking off again, according a Navy spokesperson. A video of the incident shared on social media shows the fighter jets plummeting into the waters of the San Diego harbor.

The two pilots, both in good condition, were quickly rescued by the Coast Guard and are being kept under 24-hour medical observation out of caution, the Navy said in a press release on Wednesday evening. Newsweek has contacted the Navy via email for further comment.

The Context

The country has recently been shocked by a series of tragic plane crashes. Over the course of 12 days starting on January 29, the U.S. reported four major aviation incidents that claimed the lives of 85 people. There had previously been no deadly plane crash involving a U.S. airliner since 2009.

What to Know

The Navy aircraft that crashed into the San Diego Bay was an EA-18G Growler, a two-seater fighter jet that specializes in electronic warfare. The crash was reported at 10:16 a.m. local time.

In footage shared on social media, the aircraft can be seen plunging down at incredible speed.

Brandon Viets, the captain of the sportfishing boat that picked up the two pilots, the Premier, said that the fighter jet remained in the air for several minutes before diving into the water. The two pilots fell with parachutes after ejecting.

On a live webcam of San Diego harbor traffic, someone aboard the Premier can be heard saying that the jet’s two crew members ejected right after takeoff, The Associated Press reported. “We’re on our way to help assist,” the man said at about 10:14 a.m. “They’re in the water.” Later, he added: “We have both pilots on board and safe.”

The two pilots were then transferred to a Customs and Border Protection craft.

Four major aviation incidents occurred in 2025, as reported by Fox 4.

On January 29, a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane in Washington, D.C., killing the 64 people aboard the civilian flight and the three crew members aboard the Black Hawk.

Two days later, on January 31, a medical jet crashed in Philadelphia, killing seven people.

On February 6, Bering Air Flight 445 flying from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska, went missing 10 minutes before its scheduled arrival. The wreckage of the aircraft was found in the Bering Sea; none of 10 people aboard survived.

Four days later, on February 10, one person was killed when a plane veered off the runway and crashed into a parked aircraft at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona.

What People Are Saying

Frank Ursitti, general manager of boat owner H&M Landing, said in a statement: “Captain Brandon Viets and the crew of the Premier acted swiftly, and thanks to their professionalism, were able to bring these pilots to safety.”

Viets said, as reported by AP: “All I could see was a plume of water and mud and muck, 70 to 80 feet tall.”

What’s Next

The cause of the crash is being investigated.