Mountain Home Air Force Base under lockdown after mid-air plane crash

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (KIFI)– A mid-air collision during the second day of the Gunfighter Skies Air Show forced a lockdown at Mountain Home Air Force Base on Sunday, May 17.

The Mountain Home Air Force Base Gunfighters confirmed the lockdown in a Facebook post following the incident. According to Boise CBS affiliate KBOI, the collision involved two EA-18G Growlers around two miles from the base. All airmen involved successfully ejected and parachuted to safety; no major injuries have been reported.

The Mountain Home Police Department announced on Facebook that the remainder of the air show has been canceled. Police are asking the public to avoid the area and refrain from traveling toward the base at this time.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

A History of Incidents

This weekend’s event marked the highly anticipated return of the Gunfighter Skies Air Show after an eight-year hiatus, following a 2018 incident where a veteran hang glider pilot died after crashing onto the runway. Before that, during the 2003 show, a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds jet crashed. Fortunately the pilot successfully ejected before impact.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide more updates as new information is made available.