Mid-Air Crash at Idaho Air Show

The Idaho air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base experienced a serious incident this past Sunday when two fighter jets collided in mid-air. This was the first event of its kind since 2018, when a hang glider crash resulted in the tragic death of pilot Dan Buchanan in front of a stunned audience.

The Gunfighter Skies event, located around 80 miles southeast of Boise, had not been hosted for eight years following Buchanan’s fatal performance accident. He was a paraplegic aviator with over 3,000 hours of hang gliding experience, captivating crowds with choreographed moves set to music and fireworks. Unfortunately, during one such display, he crashed when it seemed he was mimicking a communications failure.

Fellow pilot Fred Worth recalled, “It’s very tragic. He was attacking at a high angle,” highlighting the suddenness of the incident. In his act, Buchanan staged a mock aerial battle against an airplane, which added a light-hearted touch to the performance until it turned fatal.

Buchanan’s glide became parallel with the ground as he lost airspeed and nose-dived toward the earth, according to Worth.

In the aftermath of Buchanan’s death, the 366th Fighter Wing dedicated the rest of the air show to him, and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds also shared their condolences on social media.

The Mountain Home Air Force Base had seen another accident in 2003 when a Thunderbird jet crashed during a maneuver, though the pilot managed to escape just before it hit the ground.

This recent crash involved two U.S. Navy EA18-G Growlers from the 129th Electronic Attack Squadron, stationed at Whidbey Island, Washington. Each plane is valued at around $67 million.

Footage from the event illustrated the two jets coming together and spiraling down in a massive fireball, with smoke billowing into the sky. Shane Ogden, a spectator who recorded the crash, mentioned, “I was filming thinking the plane was going to fall apart, and it did, so I filmed the rest of it.”

Aviation safety experts indicated that all four crew members managed to eject safely, possibly due to the unique way the jets tangled together. “This is really amazing to see,” noted Jeff Gazzetti, explaining how the entanglement may have saved the pilots.

By Monday morning, base officials reported that all four crew members were in stable condition. “I think everyone is safe and that’s the most important thing,” said Kim Sykes, marketing director for Silverwings of Idaho, the event’s organizer.

Following the crash, the base went on lockdown, and the rest of the air show was canceled. An investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing, with good visibility conditions reported at the time and winds reaching up to 49 mph.