{"id":45683,"date":"2023-07-06T20:41:29","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T20:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/07\/06\/lightning-struck-three-growler-jets-over-japan-on-the-same-day\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:46:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:46:38","slug":"lightning-struck-three-growler-jets-over-japan-on-the-same-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/07\/06\/lightning-struck-three-growler-jets-over-japan-on-the-same-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Lightning struck three Growler jets over Japan on the same day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Three E\/A-18G Growler jets<\/a> were struck by lightning on June 6 while they conducted operations over southern Japan, officials confirmed this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo personnel were injured during this incident and all aircraft landed safely at Kadena Air Force Base,\u201d Naval Air Forces<\/a> spokesperson Ensign Bryan Blair said in an email. \u201cNavy aircrew and ground support personnel are trained to respond to these scenarios and followed all procedures in accordance with U.S. Navy instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Growlers are all assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 out of Naval Air Station Whidby Island, Wash. VAQ-135 is currently assigned to Commander, Task Force 70, forward-deployed to U. S. 7th Fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blair said that lightning strikes on Navy aircraft \u201care infrequent, but sometimes occur when weather patterns do not progress as forecasted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On average, 12 lightning strikes involving Navy jets occurred each year between 2020 and 2022, according to Blair, and seven such strikes have happened so far in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n