The Navy identified the two pilots who died in an Oct. 15 aircraft crash near Mount Rainier during a training flight as Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans and Lt. Serena N. Wileman

Both recently returned from deployment in the Middle East, where they “distinguished themselves in combat operations”

The two “cemented legacies by making history that will inspire future generations of Naval officers and aviators," Navy officials said in a tribute

The U.S. Navy identified two pilots who were killed in an aircraft crash last week, calling them “role models, trailblazers, and women whose influence touched countless people on the flight deck and well beyond.”

Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, a naval flight officer, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, 31, a naval aviator, were killed during the Oct. 15 training flight when their EA-18G Growler crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington State, officials said in a Monday, Oct. 21, news release. Both were from California.

The Navy later shared a tribute to Evans and Wileman, stating that the two had recently returned from a deployment with the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 in the Middle East.

“Operating mostly from the Red Sea, they supported Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, PROSPERITY GUARDIAN, and POSEIDON ARCHER, where they were involved in the most dynamic combat action in defense of the strike group and freedom of navigation since World War II,” the Navy said.

The branch added that Evans and Wileman “distinguished themselves in combat operations” during their deployment, and as a result, the two service members “cemented legacies by making history that will inspire future generations of Naval officers and aviators.”

According to the Navy, Evans attended the University of Southern California, adding that she served in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), earning her “Wings of Gold” as a naval flight officer out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. An EA-18G Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO), Evans was also remembered for her tactical expertise and mentorship.

“While familiar with the spotlight, Evans always carried herself as a humble yet strong leader — the quiet professional,” the Navy said in its tribute.

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The Navy said that during her 2023-2024 deployment in the Red Sea, Evans was involved in the coordination and execution of several combat strikes into Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, “making her one of the few women to fly combat missions over land.”

Evans even participated in the all-female Super Bowl flyover in 2023 at Glendale, Arizona, to mark 50 years of women aviators in the Navy.

Commissioned through Officer Candidate School, Wielman was a senior first-tour naval aviator who was known for her “heart of gold, passion, and unrelenting smile” as well as her commitment “to improve and grow, not only for herself but every sailor and officer around her,” officials said.

Like Evans, Wileman was deployed in the Red Sea and participated in air strikes into Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, making her “one of the few women to fly combat missions over land,” the Navy said. Her skills and actions earned her three Strike Flight Air Medals between Dec. 17, 2023, and April 5, 2024.

“Despite operating in a weapons engagement zone, her calm and collected demeanor under pressure showed during combat operations,” according to the tribute. “Even when recovering alerts while IKE [USS Dwight D. Eisenhower] was being targeted and the CSG [Carrier Strike Group] was under attack by Houthi terrorists, she executed flawlessly, bringing all CVW-3 aircraft aboard expeditiously and safely.”

At the time of the crash, the two were participating in a routine training flight. The cause of the incident is under investigation, according to the Navy.

According to a Wednesday, Oct. 16, update, during the search for the aircraft in an area 30 miles west of Yakima, responders faced “mountainous terrain, cloudy weather, and low visibility.” By Sunday, Oct. 20, the branch declared the missing crewmembers dead.

The Navy’s tribute noted Evans and Wileman’s strong connection to their families and others, stating that the two “always lifted others up, even during the most challenging moments of deployment, knowing exactly how to take a quick break from the ‘stress’ of the job and deployment and getting everyone’s heads back in the game.”