Navy Jets Collide During Idaho Air Show

Two Navy jets collided during an air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho on Sunday, but all four crew members made it out safely after ejecting. Emergency crews responded immediately to the incident, which occurred off base.

According to Kim Sykes, marketing director for Silver Wings of Idaho (the organization that helped plan the show), all four pilots ejected successfully before the planes hit the ground. Sykes didn't witness the collision itself but saw the smoke afterward. The base locked down after the incident as investigators began determining what caused the crash.

Air shows carry inherent risk, especially when multiple aircraft are performing synchronized maneuvers. Despite the collision, the fact that all crew members walked away is a testament to both pilot training and the safety systems built into modern military aircraft.

The incident will likely prompt a review of the show's flight protocols.