Instagram · May 18, 2026
Fighter Jet Crews Safely Eject After Mid-Air Collision at Idaho Air Show
Fighter jet crews escaped safely after a mid-air collision during a United States air show, with an emergency response swiftly activated.
What's right
What's wrong
What's debatable
Breakdown
On Sunday, May 17, 2026, two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler fighter jets collided mid-air during the 'Gunfighter Skies Air Show' at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.
All four crew members (pilots and electronic warfare officers) successfully ejected from their aircraft and were reported to be in stable condition. Emergency responders were immediately on the scene, the base was locked down, and the remainder of the air show was canceled.
Videos of the incident, widely shared online, depicted the two planes becoming entangled in mid-air, multiple parachutes deploying, and a large explosion with a subsequent black smoke plume visible on the ground where the wreckage fell. The claims in the video's transcript accurately reflect the details of this event as reported by multiple reliable news sources around the time of the incident. [1][2][3]