The U.S. Navy released the identities of the two crew members who were aboard a fighter jet that crashed in Washington last week. The crew members, Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay P. Evans and Lieutenant Serena N. Wileman, were declared dead after days of searching. They were part of Electronic Attack Squadron 130, also known as the “Zappers.” Wileman was described as a Naval Aviator with a heart of gold, while Evans was a humble yet strong leader who participated in the all-female Super Bowl flyover in 2023.
The aircraft involved in the crash was an EA-18G Growler belonging to VAQ-130, based at Whidbey Island in Washington. The squadron recently returned from a combat deployment in the southern Red Sea. The Growler, built by Boeing, costs $67 million and first went into production in 2004.
The crash occurred near Mount Rainier, and the crew members were located after five days of searching. The Navy expressed sadness over the loss of the two crew members and highlighted their dedication and achievements within the Growler community. The Zappers have a long history as the Navy’s oldest electronic warfare squadron, commissioned in 1959. The crash remains under investigation as the Navy mourns the loss of the two crew members.
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