The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department reported that two pilots were rescued after their fighter jet crashed in San Diego Bay at 1401 Shelter San Diego Drive on the Wednesday morning of November 8, 2023. A spokesperson for the United States Navy confirmed that the jet was an E/A-18 G Growler.
The spokesperson stated that the aircrew had to eject out of the jet, and they were subsequently extracted from the water. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the pilots were only a minute away from drowning when good Samaritans on a fishing boat rescued them.
As of today, Boat traffic in Shelter Island Basin has been restricted to emergency vessels only. Perimer Harbor Police has closed Kellogg Beach due to the emergency response.
Harbor Police have stated that traffic through San Diego Bay on the main channel is still accessible, however the Coast Guard and Navy are heavily stationed around the debris field until it is completely cleaned up.
As the Navy is the primary authority in charge of this incident, Harbor PD would not comment any further regarding the pilots or the aircraft for public safety reasons.
Naval Air Station North Island is located directly to the east of where our reporting crew was positioned during the time of the crash. During the report, the Navy indicated the crash took place when the pilots were trying to land.
At this juncture, it is unknown where they were flying from, along with the cause of the crash.
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