Latest news with #BrandonViets
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Military Jet's Impact in San Diego Bay Caught in Shocking Footage
The terrifying moment of impact when a U.S. military fighter jet nosedived and crashed into the San Diego Harbor was caught in newly-surfaced video. And given the severity of the crash, it's incredible that neither of the two pilots nor any bystanders were hurt. The two-seat EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jet went down at 10:17 a.m. on Wednesday morning off the shore near Shelter Island; a neighborhood which sits across the bay from Naval Air Station North Island. In the footage, the aircraft could be seen hurtling towards the water before making a 45-degree impact in just seconds, sending a giant splash of water and plume of smoke into the air. "The plane hit the water, and there was an explosion. A lot of black plumes, and then it just like got sucked into the water. And within 15 seconds, there was nothing," one witness told CBS 8 San Diego, adding that she didn't wish it on anybody to witness such a scary moment. Another angle of the crash that surfaced in surveillance footage Wednesday afternoon showed the jet going down over some nearby structures. Both pilots ejected just moments before the crash, and Navy officials confirmed that they had been rescued by a nearby finishing boat within a minute of landing in the water. They were subsequently transferred to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air Marine Operations vessel and taken to U.C. San Diego Medical Center in stable condition for further evaluation. The captain of the fishing boat, Brandon Viets with Premier Sport Fishing, told Fox 5 San Diego that the jet crashed within a quarter mile of where they recused the pilots, and that it just narrowly avoided hitting their fishing boat with 12 passengers on board, as well as nearby homes and businesses on the coastline. 'I was thinking that's a funny maneuver they're doing because from time to time they do fly and it just sounded weird, and then once we saw two parachutes with dots underneath, we decided to turn the boat and head right to them and help them out," Viets recalled. "The pilots seemed to be okay and coherent when we brought them on board and then they got taken off and given first aid." Another fisherman aboard the boat, Colin Casper, said that the pilots seemed shaken up, but they were aware of their surrounding and what had happened. "I looked over and saw the jet flying without pilots, without the cockpit on it," he added.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fishing boat captain who rescued Navy pilots after jet crash describes surreal moment: 'What we see in movies'
A fishing charter boat captain who rescued two parachuting Navy pilots after witnessing their unmanned fighter jet plummet into San Diego Bay described what he saw as something from a movie. The U.S. Navy electronic-warfare aircraft, a Boeing EA-18G Growler, crashed into San Diego Bay near Naval Air Station North Island just after 10:15 a.m. Wednesday. Capt. Brandon Viets of Premier Sportfishing had 12 people on board his boat for recreational fishing nearby on what he called a "normal day," when everything suddenly went south. Ntsb: Black Hawk Was Flying Too High When It Collided With Passenger Plane Over Washington Dc, Killing 67 "Normally we hear jets taking off, because North Island is right there next to us, less than a half mile away," Viets told Fox News Digital. However, on Wednesday's trip, he said, a nearby jet was louder than usual, capturing his attention. Read On The Fox News App "We were cruising out, and when I looked back, I saw a jet at almost eye level, about a few hundred yards off the back of the boat," he said. "I looked to the right of that jet, and I saw two parachutes with two guys falling down." Viets described the surreal feeling of watching the fighter jet flying, not knowing if anyone was onboard piloting it. "At that point, I'm like, 'Holy moly,'" he said. "Like, this is what we see in movies." Without hesitation, Viets took to the PA system to notify the crew. "I was telling them, 'Hey, we're going. We've got to go help,'" he said. "'We don't know if they are injured or not or if there are people in the water, and we need to get them out of there.'" Philadelphia Plane Tragedy: Medical Ambulance Transporting Pediatric Patient Crashes, Explodes Near Homes The crew turned the boat around and sped toward the pilots. Viets said the boat was going as fast as the engine allowed, and they were soon next to the two soaked service members. The plane was still in the air. "As soon as I pulled up to them, I was yelling to them, just to make sure they were OK," he said. "Then I heard this loud noise, boom, and [the jet] hit the water less than an eighth of a mile away from us." The military aircraft crashed on the other side of the channel, Viets said. He described a "plume" of sand, muck and water, at least 80 feet high, shooting up from the bay. Viets' crew retrieved all the boat's safety gear, including safety ladders, and positioned the boat near the pilots in the water. Both pilots were pulled from the water and were coherent, according to Viets. "I didn't ask anything about what happened or the plane. I was just worried about them," he said. "I asked about how they were, and their composure was pretty good for what just happened. They were pretty calm and collected about it, but you could still see a lot of [things] going on in their brains." Crew members instructed the pilots to sit down and later were met by the Coast Guard. A Navy vessel then picked the pilots up and took them to a nearby dock, Viets said. The fishing boat joined and stayed with the authorities for about 45 minutes. Alaska Crews Recover Remains Of All 10 Plane Crash Victims, Authorities Say The Coast Guard San Diego Office confirmed the service members were then transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine Operations. "Then the Coast Guard said, 'OK, you guys are good to go,'" Viets said. "We went fishing after that and caught a few fish for a couple of hours." Both pilots were taken to a hospital and were reportedly in stable condition, according to the Coast Guard. Viets said the crew assisted a few small private boats in the past that sank, but Wednesday's incident was unique. "We have assisted smaller vessels, helping someone get off their boat or if they need a pump or something small like that, but nothing involving an aircraft that crashed — or pilots with parachutes in the water," he said. "Nothing like that." Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines Planes Collide On The Ground In Seattle He added it took a while for the gravity of the day's events to sink in. "It took me a little while to take it in and just to think, 'I'm glad that plane landed somewhere where it didn't hurt anyone,'" Viets said. "I'm still thinking, 'Luckily, it landed somewhere safe, not on land, and those two pilots seem to be OK.'" The cause of the crash has not yet been released by Naval Base Coronado's Emergency Operations Center, which is investigating. However, H&M Landing, a fishing company, provided a statement to Fox News Digital claiming the aircraft experienced a "mechanical failure." A Navy official told Fox News Digital it is unclear if a distress signal was sent out prior to the crash, and the pilots have not been publicly identified. As of Thursday, the Navy is continuing efforts to safely remove the aircraft from the bay as quickly as possible, while minimizing environmental impact, according to a statement. Weather conditions may delay the timeline. In a statement Thursday, the Naval Air Forces said it is leading efforts to assess and coordinate the jet's retrieval, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One is the tactical commander for salvage operations. "Some pieces of debris may resemble weapons or classified components and may present a hazard if handled," it said in the statement. The public is strongly advised not to approach, touch or collect any debris that may wash ashore. They are also asked to remain clear of the area and not interfere with the recovery. The wreck came after a recent string of fatal plane crashes across the country. Click To Get The Fox News App An Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with a commercial passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Jan. 29, killing 67 people. In the following days, plane crashes in Pennsylvania and Alaska claimed the lives of 17 people. Most recently, a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil was involved in a fatal crash Monday at Scottsdale Airport in article source: Fishing boat captain who rescued Navy pilots after jet crash describes surreal moment: 'What we see in movies'
Fox News
13-02-2025
- General
- Fox News
Fishing boat captain who rescued Navy pilots after jet crash describes surreal moment: 'What we see in movies'
A fishing charter boat captain who rescued two parachuting Navy pilots after witnessing their unmanned fighter jet plummet into San Diego Bay described what he saw as something from a movie. The U.S. Navy electronic-warfare aircraft, a Boeing EA-18G Growler, crashed into San Diego Bay near Naval Air Station North Island just after 10:15 a.m. Wednesday. Capt. Brandon Viets of Premier Sportfishing had 12 people on board his boat for recreational fishing nearby on what he called a "normal day," when everything suddenly went south. "Normally we hear jets taking off, because North Island is right there next to us, less than a half mile away," Viets told Fox News Digital. However, on Wednesday's trip, he said, a nearby jet was louder than usual, capturing his attention. "We were cruising out, and when I looked back, I saw a jet at almost eye level, about a few hundred yards off the back of the boat," he said. "I looked to the right of that jet, and I saw two parachutes with two guys falling down." Viets described the surreal feeling of watching the fighter jet flying, not knowing if anyone was onboard piloting it. "At that point, I'm like, 'Holy moly,'" he said. "Like, this is what we see in movies." Without hesitation, Viets took to the PA system to notify the crew. "I was telling them, 'Hey, we're going. We've got to go help,'" he said. "'We don't know if they are injured or not or if there are people in the water, and we need to get them out of there.'" The crew turned the boat around and sped toward the pilots. Viets said the boat was going as fast as the engine allowed, and they were soon next to the two soaked service members. The plane was still in the air. "As soon as I pulled up to them, I was yelling to them, just to make sure they were OK," he said. "Then I heard this loud noise, boom, and [the jet] hit the water less than an eighth of a mile away from us." The military aircraft crashed on the other side of the channel, Viets said. He described a "plume" of sand, muck and water, at least 80 feet high, shooting up from the bay. Viets' crew retrieved all the boat's safety gear, including safety ladders, and positioned the boat near the pilots in the water. Both pilots were pulled from the water and were coherent, according to Viets. "I didn't ask anything about what happened or the plane. I was just worried about them," he said. "I asked about how they were, and their composure was pretty good for what just happened. They were pretty calm and collected about it, but you could still see a lot of [things] going on in their brains." Crew members instructed the pilots to sit down and later were met by the Coast Guard. A Navy vessel then picked the pilots up and took them to a nearby dock, Viets said. The fishing boat joined and stayed with the authorities for about 45 minutes. The Coast Guard San Diego Office confirmed the service members were then transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine Operations. "Then the Coast Guard said, 'OK, you guys are good to go,'" Viets said. "We went fishing after that and caught a few fish for a couple of hours." Both pilots were taken to a hospital and were reportedly in stable condition, according to the Coast Guard. Viets said the crew assisted a few small private boats in the past that sank, but Wednesday's incident was unique. "We have assisted smaller vessels, helping someone get off their boat or if they need a pump or something small like that, but nothing involving an aircraft that crashed — or pilots with parachutes in the water," he said. "Nothing like that." He added it took a while for the gravity of the day's events to sink in. "It took me a little while to take it in and just to think, 'I'm glad that plane landed somewhere where it didn't hurt anyone,'" Viets said. "I'm still thinking, 'Luckily, it landed somewhere safe, not on land, and those two pilots seem to be OK.'" The cause of the crash has not yet been released by Naval Base Coronado's Emergency Operations Center, which is investigating. However, H&M Landing, a fishing company, provided a statement to Fox News Digital claiming the aircraft experienced a "mechanical failure." A Navy official told Fox News Digital it is unclear if a distress signal was sent out prior to the crash, and the pilots have not been publicly identified. As of Thursday, the Navy is continuing efforts to safely remove the aircraft from the bay as quickly as possible, while minimizing environmental impact, according to a statement. Weather conditions may delay the timeline. In a statement Thursday, the Naval Air Forces said it is leading efforts to assess and coordinate the jet's retrieval, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One is the tactical commander for salvage operations. "Some pieces of debris may resemble weapons or classified components and may present a hazard if handled," it said in the statement. The public is strongly advised not to approach, touch or collect any debris that may wash ashore. They are also asked to remain clear of the area and not interfere with the recovery. The wreck came after a recent string of fatal plane crashes across the country. An Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with a commercial passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Jan. 29, killing 67 people. In the following days, plane crashes in Pennsylvania and Alaska claimed the lives of 17 people. Most recently, a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil was involved in a fatal crash Monday at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona.
CBS News
13-02-2025
- General
- CBS News
Video shows Navy plane crash in San Diego harbor; fishing boat captain describes rescue of pilots from water
A fishing boat on the scene of a Navy fighter jet crash in the San Diego Harbor picked up the two ejected pilots just moments after they landed in the waterway. The plane, identified by a Navy official as an EA-18G Growler, a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, was flying in low visibility conditions when it went down around 10:17 a.m. near Naval Air Station North Island, home to Naval Base Coronado. The two pilots were the only crew members aboard. Both pilots were able to safely eject from the plane, U.S. Navy officials told CBS News. They were the only people aboard the plane. Navy boats immediately began searching the water, but the pilots' parachutes were spotted by the crew of the Premier, a fishing charter. H&M Landing, the company that owns the vessel, said the Premier's crew saw the pilots before they even hit the water. "Luckily we were there to spin the boat around, and thanks to my crew and everyone else we were able to swing by and pick them up and safely get them out of the water," said Brandon Viets, the ship's captain. The Associated Press reported that Viets had 12 passengers on the ship on a fishing trip. The Premier's quick arrival meant the pilots only spent about a minute in 50-degree water, officials said. "We are relieved and grateful to have had one of our vessels in the right place at the right time," said Frank Ursitti, the general manager of H&M Landing, in a statement to CBS News. "Captain Brandon Viets and the crew of the Premier acted swiftly, and thanks to their professionalism, were able to bring these pilots to safety." The fishing boat was met by a small U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations boat that had been on the scene when the incident occurred. The rescued pilots were evaluated and transported to an area hospital. Both are in stable condition, officials said. They are under a 24-hour medical observation out of an abundance of caution, a Navy spokesperson said. As of Thursday morning, the aircraft remained submerged in the harbor, with response teams actively assessing the scene, a Navy spokesperson said. The wreckage caused a "large debris field," police said. Crews quickly set up containment lines in the bay to try to filter out debris, including gas and oil, that may have leaked from the downed airplane. "Anytime there's an aircraft accident like this, there is a little bit of concern about the maritime environmental impact," Lt. Daniel Moen, of the San Diego Harbor Police Department, told CBS News. The Navy is investigating the cause of the crash. The public has been asked to not approach, touch or collect any debris that may wash ashore. Suspected debris should be reported to authorities.
Daily Tribune
13-02-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
New Footage Shows U.S. Military Jet Crashing into San Diego Bay, California
Newly released footage captures the dramatic moment a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler jet crashed into the San Diego Bay this morning. The two pilots onboard successfully ejected just before impact, landing in the water before being rescued by a nearby fishing boat. Eyewitnesses reported that the crash created an enormous 80-foot plume of water and mud. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the jet was performing a "go-around maneuver" when the incident occurred. The pilots, who were retrieved by the crew of the fishing boat Premier, were transported to a hospital and are now in stable condition. 'Captain Brandon Viets and the crew of the Premier acted swiftly, and thanks to their professionalism, were able to bring these pilots to safety,' said the manager of the company that books the fishing boats. Authorities in the United States are currently investigating the cause of the crash, and officials have urged the public to avoid the area as cleanup efforts continue.
