Two Navy aviators died when their EA-18G Growler jet crashed in heavily forested terrain near Mount Rainier during a routine training mission.
Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, 31, both assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, were killed in the accident. The aircraft went down in a rugged, wooded area east of the mountain, prompting a search operation that located wreckage at approximately 6,000 feet.
Who Were the Aviators
Evans, a Naval Flight Officer from Palmdale, California, made history in 2023 as part of the first all-female flyover at Super Bowl LVII, honoring five decades of women in naval aviation. Wileman, commissioned as a Naval Aviator in 2018, had earned multiple military decorations including the Navy Unit Commendation Medal and Combat Action Ribbon.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the loss of two cherished Zappers,” said Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, the squadron’s commanding officer. “Our priority is supporting their families, our sailors, and the Growler community.”
The Recovery Operation
The Navy shifted from search-and-rescue to recovery operations on Sunday after confirming both aviators had died. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the National Guard to provide round-the-clock security at the crash site as Navy teams prepare for a long-term salvage effort in the steep terrain.
The EA-18G Growler, a $67 million electronic warfare platform derived from the F/A-18 Super Hornet, arrived at Whidbey Island in 2008 and serves as the Navy’s front-line electronic attack aircraft. Federal investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash.
Tributes and Legacy
U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who had previously met Evans during a base visit, described her as “a pioneering leader who broke barriers and made history.” Murray extended condolences to both families, noting that the aviators “paved the way for generations of women who will follow in their footsteps.”
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.