Navy fighter plane crashes during training, female flying officer from Washington dies in the line of duty_1

Two female Navy aviators tragically lost their lives during a training flight in Washington state shortly after returning from a deployment in the Middle East. The incident involved the EA-18G Growler, a state-of-the-art electronic warfare aircraft, which costs approximately $67 million. This aircraft is considered the Navy’s first line of defense in combat scenarios.

In a statement released on the 21st of this month, Commander Timothy Warburton of Electronic Attack Squadron 130, known as the “Zappers,” expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the two aviators: “It is with heavy hearts that we confirm the loss of two beloved Zapper team members.” He emphasized the Navy’s immediate priority is to support the families of the fallen pilots, safeguard the rights of their sailors and crew, and thanked the organizations involved in recovering the bodies.

Captain Serena N. Wileman, the front-seat pilot, and Major Lyndsay P. Evans, the weapons systems officer in the back seat, were conducting routine training exercises on October 15 when their aircraft took off from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Unfortunately, around 3:23 PM, the plane crashed in northeast Washington. Search teams later found the wreckage on a slope east of Mount Rainier, confirming the deaths of both pilots.

Both officers, aged 31 and hailing from California, served in the same squadron and had recently completed a nine-month combat deployment in the Red Sea aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Colonel Marvin Scott, the commander of the third squadron, noted that Evans and Wileman were “exceptionally skilled pilots and recipients of combat awards.”

Carrier Strike Group Two and Carrier Air Wing 3 released a joint statement highlighting the impact of these women: “They were not just names and ranks, but pioneers and role models, inspiring countless colleagues serving on the flight deck and beyond.”

The Navy is currently investigating the cause of the crash, as both aviators were well-regarded and had participated in numerous challenging missions throughout their careers.