The process of recovering a fighter jet that crashed into San Diego Bay could take as long as two weeks, the Navy said Friday.
The EA-18G Growler went down near Shelter Island in rainy and misty conditions about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday during an aborted landing approach to Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, authorities said. Witnesses described seeing the plane flying at what seemed to be unusually low altitudes just before it nosedived into the harbor.
After the crew members were pulled from the water by the crew of a fishing boat, paramedics took the aviators to UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest for evaluations.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, according to military officials.
“The public may notice heavy equipment near the Shelter Island harbor entrance as recovery operations continue,” a statement from Commander Naval Air Forces said Friday. “(Civilians) are asked to stay clear of floating cranes, barges and other recovery vessels in the area and avoid interfering with ongoing recovery efforts.”
Private boats may travel into and out of the harbor in the area as long “as they can safely transit the passage,” according to Navy officials.
