The status of the two crew members remains unclear after a Navy aircraft crashed east of Mount Rainier on Wednesday afternoon.

Shortly after 3:20 p.m., a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft crashed east of Mount Rainier during a routine training flight, the Navy confirmed. Multiple search and rescue attempts were conducted, including using a U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter, to locate the crew and investigate the crash site.

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“As of 7 p.m. October 15, the status of the two crew members remains unknown,” Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) wrote in a news release. “The cause of the crash is under investigation.”

According to the Seattle Times, the search began as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and spanned more than 40 miles. Further searches are expected to be carried out on Wednesday.

The aircraft, a variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, is part of Electronic Attack Squadron 130, known as “Zappers.”

“The VAQ-130 'Zappers' are based at NAS Whidbey Island and recently completed a combat deployment on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as the sole E/A-18G Growler squadron with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3,” NASWI wrote a prepared statement.

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With one exception, all of the Navy's Growler squadrons are stationed at NASWI.

The identities of the crew members were not released.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and email him here.