Captain of a fishing charter boat rescued two parachute naval pilots after witnessing a unmanned fighter jet plunge San Diego Bay He described what he saw as something in the film.
The US Navy electronic watering aircraft, a Boeing EA-18G Growler, hit San Diego Bay near North Island Naval Air Station at 10:15am Wednesday.
Colonel Brandon Viets of Premier Sportfishing put 12 people on his boat for recreational fishing, what he called “normal day” when everything suddenly went south.
Images from video footage of a US military fighter jet crashing into San Diego Bay on Wednesday. (Premier Sportfishing/Brandon Viets)
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“We usually hear jets take off because the North Island is next to us, less than half a mile,” Viets told Fox News Digital.
However, on a trip Wednesday, he said the nearby jet was bigger than usual and would catch his attention.
“We were cruised, but when I looked back, we saw a jet almost eye-high, hundreds of yards behind the boat,” he said. “I looked to the right of that jet and saw two parachutes falling two men.”
The naval fighter pilot was dressed in dark uniforms on Colonel Brandon Bates' fishing boat after rescuing soldiers who had been kicked out of the plane before crashing in San Diego Bay on Wednesday. (Premier Sportfishing/Brandon Viets)
Beyet explained the surreal feeling of seeing a fighter plane flying, but he didn't know if anyone was piloting it.
“At that point, I'm like 'Holy Mori',” he said. “This is what we see in the film.”
Without hesitation, Vegetsu took him to the PA system to notify the crew.
“I was telling them, 'Hey, we're going, we have to help,'” he said. “I don't know if they're injured or if there's someone in the water or if we need to get them out of there.”
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The crew turned around at the boat and speeded towards the pilot.
Viets said the boat was moving as fast as the engine was allowed and was soon next to two soaked service members.
The plane was still in the air.
“As soon as I stopped by them, I was screaming at them to make sure they were OK,” he said. “Then I've had this big noise, boom, [the jet] You hit the water that's not eight miles away from us. ”
The military plane crashed on the other side of the waterway, Bates said.
Photo taken by the crew of Navy Jet crew by Prime Minister Brandon Bates before crashing in San Diego Bay. (Premier Sportfishing/Brandon Viets)
He shot from the bay about a “plume” of sand, mud and water that was at least 80 feet tall.
Beetz's crew regained the safety equipment of all boats, including the safe ladder, and placed the boats near the underwater pilots.
Both pilots were drawn out of the water and were consistent.
“I didn't ask anything about what happened or anything about the plane. I was worried about them,” he said. “I asked how they were going and their calm was pretty good because it just happened. They were pretty calm about it, but you still have a lot I was able to see it [things] It continues with their brains. ”
The crew instructed the pilot to sit and later met the Coast Guard.
A naval ship then picked up the pilot and took him to a nearby dock, Beetz said. The fishing boat joined the authorities for about 45 minutes and stayed.
The first responder arrives at a fallen fighter in San Diego Bay on Wednesday. (KFMB)
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The Coast Guard's San Diego office confirmed that service members have been moved to US Customs Border Patrol Air and marine operations.
“Then the Coast Guard said, 'Okay, you guys can go,'” Bates said. “I then went fishing and caught a few fish for a few hours.”
Both pilots were taken to hospital and reportedly were in stable condition, according to the Coast Guard.
Military fighter plane crashes into San Diego Bay (x/@sandiegowebcam)
Vegetsu said the incident on Wednesday was unique, although crews helped several small private ships in the past that had sunk.
“We're going to help smaller ships, help someone get off the boat, or if we need a pump or something like that, what's going to include a pilot with a collision aircraft or an underwater parachute. There's none either,” he said. “There's no such thing.”
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He added that it took some time for the gravity of the event that day to sink.
“It took me a while to take that and think, 'I'm glad the plane landed somewhere that didn't hurt anyone's,” Bates said. “I'm still thinking, 'Fortunately, it landed somewhere, not on land, and these two pilots seem to be fine.”
The Navy EA-18G Growler crashed into San Diego Bay on Wednesday. (KGTV)
The cause of the crash has not yet been announced by the Naval Base Coronado Emergency Operations Center, which is under investigation.
However, fishing company H&M Landing provided a statement to Fox News Digital claiming it had experienced a “mechanical disorder.”
Navy officials told Fox News Digital it is unclear whether distress signals were sent prior to the crash, and the pilot has not been publicly identified.
As of Thursday, the Navy is continuing its efforts to safely remove aircraft from the bay as soon as possible, while minimizing environmental impacts. Weather conditions can delay the timeline.
Boeing EA-18G Growler Jet Fighter with a VAQ-141 located in Kanagawa, Japan. (Damon Coulter/SOPA Images/Lightrocket via Getty Images)
In a statement Thursday, the Navy said it was a major effort to assess and coordinate searches for jets, with the explosive weapons disposal group being tactical commanders for rescue operations.
“Some shards may resemble weapons or classified components and may present danger if they are handled,” the statement said.
The public is highly advised not to approach, touch or collect any debris that may be washed. They are also asked to continue avoiding the area rather than hindering recovery.
The wreck came after a recent series of deadly planes crashed across the country.
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Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in air with commercial airliner Ronald Reagan near Washington National Airport On January 29th, 67 people were killed.
The next day, a plane crashed in Pennsylvania, killing Alaska for 17 lives.
More recently, a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe's lead singer Vince Neil was involved in a fatal crash on Monday at Arizona's Scottsdale Airport.
