The Navy says it has completed salvage and recovery operations of a $67 million Navy jet that crashed Feb. 12 in San Diego Bay near Shelter Island.
Officials said divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 3-8, attached to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three, completed the task this week. The Navy earlier brought in a barge and crane to support its salvage work of the wrecked jet. That heavy equipment was removed from the site Sunday.
“The recovery team conducted a thorough review of the collected debris and recovery site” and notified regulatory agencies before concluding the salvage effort, the Navy said in a statement released late Wednesday. The Navy earlier said it had recovered more than 15 tons of wreckage.
The EA-18G Growler crashed into the bay after its two-member crew safely ejected near Shelter Island amid rainy and misty conditions at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 12. The plane was conducting a “go around” maneuver at Naval Air Station North Island before the crash, authorities have said.
The plane had been assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 based out Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington. The jet is used to jam communications and radar systems, according to the Navy.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
