Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, and Lieutenant Serena N. Wileman, 31, were identified as the crew members aboard a U.S. Navy fighter jet that crashed in Washington state. The two were part of Electronic Attack Squadron 130, known as the “Zappers.” The crew members were declared dead after a five-day search near Mount Rainier.
Lt. Wileman, a Naval Aviator, was described as having a heart of gold and an unrelenting smile. She earned her lieutenant rank in August 2022. Lt. Evans, an alum of the University of Southern California, was known as a humble yet strong leader. She participated in the all-female Super Bowl flyover in 2023.
The EA-18G Growler aircraft from VAQ-130, based in Whidbey Island, Washington, was involved in the crash. The squadron recently completed a combat deployment in the southern Red Sea, conducting strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The Growler aircraft, first produced in 2004 by Boeing, costs $67 million.
The Navy expressed sadness over the loss of the Zapper crew members. The crash investigation is ongoing, and the Navy continues to mourn the loss of Lt. Evans and Lt. Wileman.
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