All four crew members ejected safely after two Navy jets collided and crashed on Sunday during an air show at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho, officials said.

The collision involved two U.S. Navy EA18-G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 in Whidbey Island, Washington, said Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The aircraft were performing an aerial demonstration when the crash happened, Umayam said in a statement. The four crew members from both jets safely ejected and the crash was under investigation, she said.

The crew members were in stable condition, base officials said.

Nobody at the military base was hurt, said Kim Sykes, marketing director with Silver Wings of Idaho, which helped to plan the air show.

“Everyone is safe and I think that’s the most important thing,” Sykes said.

The base said in a social media post that it was locked down immediately following the incident. The remainder of the air show was canceled.

Videos posted online by spectators showed four parachutes opening in the sky as the aircraft plummet to the ground near the base about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Boise.

The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet with sophisticated electronic warfare systems.

Shane Ogden said he was filming the two jets as they came close together. A video he captured shows the two aircraft appear to make contact and then spin in tandem as the crew members eject and their parachutes open. The planes then fall together, exploding into a fireball upon impact as the crew members drop to the ground nearby.

“I was just filming thinking they were going to split apart and that happened and I filmed the rest,” Ogden said in a text message. He said he left soon after the crash because he did not want to get in the way of emergency responders.

Organizers said the popular air show that includes flying demonstrations and parachute jumps is a celebration of aviation history and a look at modern military capabilities. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron headlined the show both days.

The National Weather Service reported good visibility and winds gusting up to 29 mph (47 kph) around the time of the crash.

Aviation safety expert John Cox, who is CEO of Safety Operating Systems, said the pilots who perform at air shows are among the best, but there is little room for error.

“Air show flying is demanding. It has very little tolerance,” Cox said. “The people who do it are very good and it’s a small margin for error. I’m glad everybody was able to get out.”

This year’s Gunfighter Skies event was the first at the base since 2018, when a hang glider died in a crash during an air show performance.

In 2003, a Thunderbirds aircraft crashed while attempting a maneuver. The pilot, who was not hurt, was able to steer the plane away from the crowd and eject less than a second before it hit the ground.

The air show industry has been working to improve safety for years at the roughly 200 events held each year in the U.S. The last fatal crash at an air show came in 2022 when two vintage military planes collided at an event in Dallas and killed six people.

John Cudahy, president and CEO of the International Council of Air Shows, said that there used to be an average of about two deaths a year at a U.S. air show. But over the past decade, the average has been closer to one death per year, he said. There were no air show deaths in 2025 or 2024, and a spectator hasn’t been killed at an air show since 1952.

“Safety wise we’ve enjoyed really an unprecedented term of few accidents,” Cudahy said.

Investigators may be able to quickly get an idea of what happened in Sunday’s crash because the crews of both planes survived and will be able to tell investigators what they saw and experienced before the collision.

The Iran war has led to the cancellation of about 10 air shows this year at bases where military units are flying missions related to the conflict. But most air shows have been able to continue as planned.

___

Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Associated Press writers Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed.

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The Eagle and Child, on Whalley Road, asked Bury Council for lawful consent to install the large structure in its outdoor seating area.

Planning papers said it is similar to a cabin and can be “erected and taken down within a day”.

Drawings show the upgrade will be metal, have windows, and is listed as a “flat pack” facility.

The planning documents say: “Lawful development certificate for proposed provision of a moveable structure within the pub beer garden.

“The moveable structure is less than 50 sq m in size and does not exceed two metres in height. It is not within two metres of a boundary with a residential property.

“The structure is not fixed to the ground but held in place by its own weight. The structure can be erected and taken down within the day.”

No further details were set out about the purpose of the structure when plans were first submitted in April.

Thwaites, which runs the venue, was contacted for more information last month but did not provide a statement.

However, Bury Council has now approved the application in a decision posted on May 14.

In its assessment, the council said: “The proposed structure will not be fixed to the ground in any way but sited on the existing flagged patio and held in place by its own weight.

“It is therefore not physically attached to anything and is therefore by definition ‘moveable’ in planning terms.

“With regards to its assembly, the structure comes flat-packed and in a series of pieces.

“It is then slotted and bolted together on site. Both its assembly and dismantling can be completed in a day.

“With regard to the information submitted, the proposed structure meets the planning definition of a ‘moveable structure’ based on the tests established in case law and planning appeals.”

Things could clear up as we head towards the Bank Holiday Weekend

We may be heading towards another Spring Bank Holiday weekend, however, the weather forecast shows the rain isn’t going away just yet.

According to the Met Office, while this week may be generally drier and brighter than the weekend, the odd shower can be expected across the country.

The forecaster has said clearer skies could lead to “mist or fog” patches when we wake up on Monday morning but showers will ease through the country in the afternoon with “more hazy sunshine” ahead of the incoming weather front.

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This is what the Met Office has forecast for Northern Ireland

Monday

Patchy mist and fog quickly clearing first thing.

Otherwise largely dry with sunny spells, but turning cloudier through the afternoon ahead of evening rain setting in. Maximum temperature 14C.

Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday

Frequent showers on Tuesday, often heavy. Generally drier and brighter on Wednesday and Thursday, but still the odd spot of rain possible.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

National Highways has issued a major update this evening, adding that a large amount of fuel spilled across the carriagway due to a single-vehicle crash.

The update read: “The M62 in Greater Manchester is closed eastbound between J21 (Milnrow) and J22 (Denshaw) due to a single vehicle collision which occurred shortly before 21:00 on 17th May.

“As a result of the collision, a large amount of fuel has spilled across the carriageway.

“Emergency services are in attendance, along with National Highways Traffic Officers who are assisting with traffic management.

“Traffic caught within the closure is in the process of being released past the scene of the incident on the hard shoulder.

“Service providers are in attendance to assist with the clean up of the carriageway and recovery services are also in attendance to recover the vehicle involved. “

West Ham were already planning to sell players this summer after posting a £104.2m loss for the last financial year.

The impending relegation would only place more pressure on the club’s finances.

The Hammers, however, are giving little away when it comes to future planning.

For now, they remain hopeful of succeeding in their survival fight, even if it looks from the outside as though it is an impossible task.

Much will depend on the thoughts of chairman David Sullivan and the other significant shareholder Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech businessman who now also owns the Royal Mail.

There are some players whose departures would seem obvious.

Midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been looked at by a number of clubs, including Manchester United, and the Portugal star is a saleable asset.

Winger Crysencio Summerville has found his form over the past couple of months and also might attract attention.

Axel Disasi will presumably return to Chelsea when his loan expires on 30 June despite his good performances in defence. Adama Traore joined from Fulham on a permanent deal in January but to the end of the season, with an option for an additional year, which is yet to be triggered.

The big decision will surround skipper Jarrod Bowen.

Along with Tomas Soucek and Alphonse Areola, the man whose last-minute goal famously won the Conference League final, is one of only three starters from that night still at the club.

Bowen, 29, is a crowd favourite and his father-in-law is actor and celebrity West Ham fan Danny Dyer.

If he could be persuaded to lead West Ham‘s attempt to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, it would represent a major coup.

However, the club – and Bowen – know there would be a queue of clubs keen to sign him for a decent fee, which would cover some of the club’s financial hit.

“But whether West Ham can extract full market value for them, given age and potential clauses in contracts, remains to be seen,” football finance expert Kieran Maguire said.

“Some players will have relegation clauses, which usually are no more than 25%, so the total wage bill will decrease significantly.”

About 40,000 people descended on Burnhope in July 1926 when the annual miners’ gala moved from Durham for the first and only time in its history.

The event took place in the village, about seven miles from the city, after the gala could not be held in Durham because miners were locked out of their pits during the general strike.

Burnhope Gala Centenary (Image: STUART BOULTON)

The “forgotten gala’s” centenary has now been commemorated with a community celebration aimed at preserving the village’s heritage.

Burnhope residents Cindy and David Brockington realised the anniversary was approaching and asked the community to help organise a commemorative event.

Burnhope Gala Centenary (Image: STUART BOULTON)

Hayley Gibson volunteered and became the event manager for the Saturday celebrations.

She said: “The idea was brought up by the village heritage group after they realised it was 100 years since the village held the miners gala.

“Saturday was absolutely fantastic we had Morpeth pipe band and Backworth Colliery and Consett brass band playing.

“Loads turned out and we made a real day of it on a field offered up by a resident.

“We had stalls, live music, entertainment, a funfair and loads more.

“We paraded through the village and they were followed by the miners’ banners, it was a real spectacle.

“The most special part was a group of men all from Burnhope village joined a band together just for this celebration called the Pitt Village Pirates.

Burnhope Gala Centenary (Image: STUART BOULTON)

” It was really special, everybody got involved and the feedback we’ve had this morning has just been phenomenal, we even had volunteers from the age of ten, Maisie, who had her own stall to 90-year-old Harry who helped us restore the banners.”

Burnhope Gala Centenary (Image: STUART BOULTON)

The original 1926 event was attended by Miners’ Federation secretary AJ Cook, who was “smuggled” into the village on a farmer’s cart.

Cook, remembered for the phrase “Not a penny off the pay, not a second on the day”, spoke at the gala for about 90 minutes.

Kynren – The Storied Lands will showcase miniature pony Phantasma and towering Shire horse Marshall Bugsy.

The major live-action park is set to open on July 18.

Standing at 18 hands and still growing, Bugsy, one of fewer than 200 grey Shires believed to remain worldwide, dwarfs his 32-inch stablemate, Phantasma.

The 32-inch miniature pony Phantasma, with Lucy Watson (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)

The pair are among the four-legged stars of the attraction.

Both horses are being trained by Kynren yard manager David Turner Richardson and deputy yard manager Lucy Watson, who have been with the attraction since its launch in 2016.

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Bugsy, one of fewer than 200 grey Shires believed to remain worldwide (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)

The duo is heavily involved in training the park’s growing team of horses for the large-scale live performances featured throughout the new daytime park.

Visitors to Kynren – The Storied Lands will see horses playing starring roles across several productions, including The Trusty Steed, Land of the Vikings, and Legend of the Wear.

Bugsy is currently being trained to join the performance team, while Phantasma is already a firm favourite with the team thanks to his outsized personality.

Sam Ransom kept turning up at the family’s home to make their life a misery

A controversial pizza shop owner terrorised his ex-girlfriend and her family. Sam Ransom, the 35-year-old franchisee of the Papa Johns takeaway in Caerphilly, repeatedly snuck onto the family’s property at night to damage their cars, security lights and other items.

In 2022 we reported on Ransom’s treatment of a 17-year-old minimum-wage employee who had asked for a free pizza while working an overtime shift at the restaurant. Ransom called him a “loser”, told him to “stop looking for handouts”, bragged about his own wealth, and then sacked the teen.

And this week Ransom, from Blaenau Gwent, was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court after he was found guilty of a theft and criminal damage spree targeting his former partner and her family. He was furious about the end of their long-term relationship and decided to cause havoc at the family’s Bridgend home on three consecutive weekends. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

One of the victims, the father of Ransom’s ex-girlfriend, watched the sentencing from the public gallery. When Ransom entered the courtroom at the start of the hearing, he gave the dad a long stare and smirk.

Prosecutor Laura Thomas said the woman had been in a relationship with Ransom for around 10 years. After their breakup Ransom turned up at the home on each of the first three weekends of January 2025.

The spree started with him ripping down a house sign that had been screwed onto the entrance to the property’s driveway. “A replacement sign was put up a few days later and that, again, was taken down and thrown into a river near the house,” said Ms Thomas.

“The defendant and another person entered the driveway multiple times on the evening of January 11. They damaged the lights that edged the driveway leading to the house, and again caused damage to the house sign.”

In that incident, Ransom and his accomplice threw stones at the property, causing damage to a downpipe and dents to the paintwork of a Kia Niro belonging to his ex-girlfriend’s brother.

The following weekend Ransom returned and again ripped off the house sign before turning his attention to his ex-partner’s Toyota Aygo.

It was night-time and the family were in bed when they heard an “almighty bang and smashing noise”, said the prosecutor. “They called police, petrified, and a neighbour came out to check what was going on. They could see the rear window of the Toyota had been completely smashed. The two bricks that caused the damage were still lying on the driveway.”

Ransom, of Station Road in Nantybwch, Tredegar, pleaded not guilty to three counts of criminal damage and one of stealing house signs and security lights, but the magistrates found him guilty of all offences. The victims made an application for £4,043 in compensation for damage.

The court heard Ransom had previous convictions, dating back to 2024, for assaulting an emergency worker and obstructing police. In that case he had received a community order.

Ransom’s solicitor Declan McSorley said: “My client is particularly hardworking, running a series of businesses from multiple locations across south Wales. He fits his relationships into his work, which is excessive in hours, as opposed to working on relationships.”

Mr McSorley said he agreed with the probation service’s recommendation of a community order. The magistrates decided to follow that recommendation, imposing a 24-month order.

Presiding Justice Norman Craggs imposed 10 days of rehabilitation activity, 26 sessions of a ‘building choices’ programme, 150 hours of unpaid work, a £114 victim services surcharge, £650 in prosecution costs, and restraining orders protecting the victims for two years each.

The presiding justice added: “We are not ordering compensation because there is a strong indication that civil proceedings may follow and they will be picked up then.”

When we approached the Caerphilly branch of Papa Johns for comment, Ransom messaged us from a WhatsApp account with a profile picture that showed US President Donald Trump alongside the words “fake news”. He told us “look forward to ur [sic] fake news” but declined to comment on his actions in detail or express any remorse.

In our 2022 report on Ransom’s actions towards the 17-year-old employee, a spokesperson for the pizza chain said: “Papa Johns UK restaurants are 100% franchisee-owned and we require all franchisees to be good employers. We are currently investigating this matter and it would not be appropriate to comment further until that investigation is complete.”

Papa Johns UK has not yet responded to our approach for comment on Ransom’s recent crimes.

If you would like to contact us about a story we should be investigating, email us at conor.gogarty@walesonline.co.uk

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