The jet crashed east of Mount Rainier on October 15 during a routine training mission. The wreckage was found the next day on a steep mountainside.

The fighter jet was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers,” based out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island north of Seattle.

The Navy identified the aviators as Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, a Naval Flight Officer from California, and Lieutenant Serena N. Wileman, 31, a Naval aviator from California.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” said Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of VAQ-130. “Our priority right now is taking care of the families of our fallen aviators and ensuring the well-being of our sailors and the Growler community. We are grateful for the ongoing teamwork to safely recover the deceased.”

There was no information as to whether their remains have been recovered.

The crash site is located in steep terrain inaccessible by ground vehicles. The recovery efforts are battling low visibility to recover the wreckage.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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The fighter jet crashed Tuesday at 3:23 p.m. PDT during a routine training flight, according to Navy officials. The names of the flight crew have not been released.

According to a Navy spokesperson, the wreckage of the jet was spotted on a mountainside east of Mount Rainier shortly after noon Wednesday. As of 10:30 a.m. PDT Thursday, the search continued for the two crewmen aboard the aircraft. 

The search teams include the U.S. Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), Patrol Squadron (VP-46), Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, and U.S. Army 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, along with Yakima County tribal and local authorities.

• READ MORE: U.S. Navy Search for Pilots Resumes After EA-18G Crash Near Mount Rainier

Terrain near the crash site is rugged and snow covered, and the search was hampered by low visibility. A temporary flight restriction was put in place over the area Tuesday afternoon and was expected to remain in place until Saturday. Wreckage is in an area so remote that it can only be accessed by air.

The aircraft, based out of NAS Whidbey Island north of Seattle, was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers.” 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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The deployment comes as U.S. defense observers report that Russia has launched more than 1,370 missiles into Ukraine in 33 days of war. 

The Growler deployments are not in response to a perceived threat and will not be used against Russian forces in Ukraine, according to defense officials. 

“They’ll be based in Germany, but you can expect that they’ll be flying missions in support of eastern flank deterrence and defense,” a senior defense official said Monday.

“The purpose of this deployment is to bolster readiness, enhance NATO’s collective defense posture and further increase air integration capabilities with our allied and partner nations,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said Monday. “They are being deployed completely in keeping with our efforts to bolster NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities along that eastern flank.” 

• READ MORE: Tactical Combat Drones Play a Role in Ukraine Air Defense

The aircraft are assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ)134 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. 

“These Growlers are equipped for a variety of missions but they specialize in flying electronic warfare missions, using a suite of jamming sensors to confuse enemy radars, greatly aiding in the ability to conduct suppression of enemy air defense operations,” Kirby said. “They will be accompanied by about 240 air crew, aircraft maintainers, and pilots.”  

The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an F/A-18 variant that integrates electronic attack technology including tactical jamming pods and communication countermeasures.

• READ MORE: U.S. Forces Mobilize as Russian Air, Ground Assault on Ukraine Rages On

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