The search for missing Marine pilots aboard the crashed jet continues

The search is still underway for two missing crew members who were aboard a U.S. Navy jet that crashed during a training mission in the Cascade Mountains on Tuesday.

Air search teams discovered the wreckage Wednesday afternoon “on a mountainside” east of Mount Rainier, the Navy said in a news release, “however, the status of two crew members is unknown.”

The Navy said the crew was conducting a “routine training flight” from Whidbey Island.

Past reporting: Wreckage of crashed Navy jet off Whidbey Island found, crew remains missing

On Thursday morning, Commander Beth Teach of the Naval Air Forces told KIRO Newsradio that the remote location of the crash site made the search difficult.

“We know it’s not accessible to motorized vehicles,” Teach said. “Therefore, the Navy is currently working with local authorities and tribal communities to find a way to get to this location on foot.”

The Navy has not confirmed the exact location, but before the wreckage was found, a news release said crews began searching about 30 miles west of Yakima. It appears the site may only be accessible to ground personnel traveling through areas in the Yakama Nation.

“It’s far from any major roads, so it’s going to take some time (Thursday) before we really get into that area,” Teach said.

KIRO Newsradio reached out to the Yakama Nation but had not received a response at the time of publication. The Navy confirmed it is working with Yakima County tribal authorities.

It remains unclear whether the crashed Growler or its crew had a transponder or other GPS device that could aid search efforts.

The Navy has not commented on whether the pilots were able to eject from the plane before Tuesday’s crash. Teach said the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The aircraft was part of the VAQ-130 squadron, or “Zappers,” which conduct electronic warfare aimed at jamming communications. KING 5 reported that the unit regularly conducts low-level flights over the Cascades.

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The squadron also recently deployed to the Red Sea aboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Dwight D Eisenhower. It was part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a mission to protect civilian shipping in the region. The USS Dwight D Eisenhower returned to the United States from this deployment in July.

Sam Campbell is a reporter, editor and host at KIRO Newsradio. You can read more stories from Sam here. Keep following Sam Xor send him an email here.

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