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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the National Guard to provide round-the-clock security near the site, while Navy teams prepare for a long-term salvage effort. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.

The EA-18G Growler, a $67 million aircraft derived from the F/A-18 Super Hornet, is the Navy’s front-line electronic warfare platform. It first arrived at Whidbey Island in 2008 and has since played a key role in global operations.