Two crew members aboard a U.S. Navy fighter jet that crashed last week in a remote area near Mount Rainier in Washington state have been declared dead after several days of searching.

“It is with immense sadness that we announce the loss of two cherished members of our family,” Navy Cmdr. Timothy Warburton stated, referring to the nickname used for those in Electronic Attack Squadron 130.

Cmdr. Warburton, leader of the squadron, indicated that the Navy will disclose the identities of the aviators 24 hours after their families have been informed.

The crew members are deemed presumed dead after rescue teams searched tirelessly for five days, despite finding the wreckage of the EA-18G Growler they were piloting. The aircraft debris was discovered on Wednesday afternoon, a day after it crashed on a mountainside east of Mount Rainier.

“Personnel on-site continue to search the broad area, recovering debris and preparing for a long-term recovery and salvage operation,” stated the Navy in their latest update on Sunday afternoon.

Crash site of the Growler discovered east of Mount Rainier

U.S. Navy units diligently searched the remote wilderness surrounding Mount Rainier following the Growler’s crash on Tuesday afternoon during a standard training flight.

Aerial operations involved an MH-60S helicopter launched from the naval air station at Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, where the Navy established an emergency response center to manage the search efforts. This naval air station hosts nearly all Navy tactical electronic attack squadrons operating the EA-18G Growler.

Wreckage of the Growler was located in the afternoon on Wednesday, but there was still no sign of the crew members.

The crash site, situated at approximately 6,000 feet in the Cascade Range, was unreachable by vehicles and located in a heavily forested area, according to the Navy. Due to the tough conditions, soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Group, who specialize in mountain rescue operations, joined in the search, as noted by the Navy.

Search and rescue teams, including local law enforcement, made their way to the crash site on Friday evening to examine the debris and initiate a thorough search of the snow-covered wilderness for the missing crew, according to the Navy.

However, by Sunday afternoon, the approach shifted to recovery efforts.

“Right now, our focus is on supporting the families of our fallen aviators and ensuring the welfare of our sailors and the Growler community,” Warburton remarked in his statement. “We sincerely appreciate the collaborative efforts to facilitate the safe recovery of the deceased.”

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

Naval aircraft belonged to the ‘Zappers’ squadron

This aircraft was a part of Electronic Attack Squadron 130, also known as VAQ-130, stationed at Whidbey Island. Established in 1959, the squadron is recognized as the Navy’s oldest electronic warfare unit and earned the nickname “Zappers” upon its commission.

The squadron had recently returned in July from a nine-month combat deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, where it conducted strikes against Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, according to the Navy.

The first EA-18 Growler test aircraft was produced in 2004, and it took its inaugural flight in 2006. Built by Boeing, the aircraft is valued at $67 million.