United States Navy F/A-18E/F Destroyed

A United States Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft assigned to VAQ-135 crashed into San Diego Bay on February 12, 2025, during an aborted landing attempt at Naval Air Station North Island. Both crew members ejected safely and were recovered by search and rescue teams. The aircraft, a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet airframe, sank in the bay. Recovery operations subsequently retrieved approximately 15 tons of wreckage from the water. The incident occurred during routine flight operations and is under investigation by the Naval Safety Command.