Navy fighter jet crashes in San Diego Bay; pilots rescued

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler fighter jet crashed into San Diego Bay around 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday while attempting to land, but both pilots successfully ejected and were quickly rescued by a local fishing crew. The fishermen, who spotted parachutes descending just before the crash, assisted the pilots onto their boat and provided first aid until they were transferred to a patrol boat and taken to a hospital; both are reported to be in stable condition. The jet had been participating in exercises and was coming from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Eyewitnesses noted the aircraft was still flying without pilots shortly before it impacted the water, narrowly missing nearby boats and structures. The Navy is investigating the cause of the crash, while crews are on site to clear debris and manage potential fuel spills. The swift actions of the fishing crew have been praised for averting a potentially tragic outcome.