US Navy identifies 2 aviators killed in EA-18G Growler jet crash near Mount Rainier

The U.S. Navy has identified the two aviators who died when their EA-18G Growler aircraft crashed near Mount Rainier last week.

Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans and Lt. Serena N. Wileman were declared dead Sunday by the Navy and search and rescue efforts were shifted to recovery operations.

Evans was a naval flight officer and Wileman was a naval aviator. Both were 31 years old and from California.

Investigators are still working to learn what led up to the Oct. 15 crash during a "routine training flight."
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Jackie Kent

[PentaRaus]

A ship in New Zealand ran aground, a jet in WA flew into the side of a mountain, and now a helicopter in TX flew into a radio tower. All in the course of a month, and they all have one thing in common. But we wont touch that subject.

[Scott-dd]

Not to sound disrespectful but WHY are these two considered "trailblazers"? Are they the first fighter pilots EVER or something? I'm sick of people getting some kind of recognition for something they had NO PART IN such as their skin color or gender. They were born with it and deserve NOTHING for that

[vicariousjohnson]

I was a naval aviation flight instructor ten years ago. It was made very clear to us that any student would be kicked out of training if they received three downs (failed events). This could be a flight, written test or even a PT/swim event. We had a meeting w the CO monthly to discuss students with challenges. At one point we had a female who had just received her 9th down and the CO was told by the Wing to keep her in training. Meanwhile we were still punting any male student who had a third down. My greatest fear was she’d make it to the fleet where she’d kill herself and others.

[gbenay]

DEI military: Competent and skilled pilots were discharged for refusing the jab in exchange for this.

[tonycurtis]

Ejection seats not activated - they flew into the mountain/ground. Loss of situational awareness.

[gua]

This whole DEI thing for pilots needs to stop.

[Nerdlessly]

10 million dollar plane with 100 million in electronics.

[doglog]

DEI is the most preposterously stupid idea humans have ever come up with.

[aaronaldrich]

Typical "journalism"... no specifics.

[thebigmon]

When a news report spends two minutes highlighting the accident pilot’s gender instead of how they ended up on the side of the mountain that’s been sitting there for millions of years.

[mikemurray]

I am a former pilot now I’m 77 years old and don’t fly anymore but I do have a gut feeling that both of these young ladies Quickly found themselves in serious trouble and froze up, failing to pull the ejection grip

[pbslab]

Remember the all-female Navy P-8 crew that put a $175 million dollar aircraft off the runway and into the water!

[redstone]

What caused the accident? A military plane with all it’s technology doesn’t just fly into a mountain.

[robertm]

Hopefully as role models it doesn't teach other women to fly into a mountain

[BOBBIEVALINTINE]

I seen a good number of military aircraft crashes in my time of service and its unfortunate but
WHAT WAS THE REASON THEY FLEW INTO A MOUNTAIN??

[AZLorie-klow]

You promote DEI policies, so you better expect these reactions regardless of the actual cause of the crash.

[deborahcarr]

We need to return to meritocracy in every area, including school admissions. No more breaks for any sector or we will go down in worse flames than these two DEI hires.

[shag]

They will never let the real facts out if they are negative

[omarjason]

If they don't know how to drive a car how they fly a plane?

[bjs]

I have to wonder if these were DEI deaths. Very few people of either sex will ever be good enough to fly that jet. Were these pilots really that good, or were they picked to fill a quota?