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US: Two jets collide midair at Idaho air show

Deutsche Welle · 🇩🇪 public Germany · · 122 words · By Karl Sexton
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CatastropheUnited States of America US: Two jets collide midair at Idaho air show May 17, 2026Advertisement Two US fighter jets were involved in a midair collision on Sunday during an airshow near Mountain Home Air Force Base in the state of Idaho.

Claims checked 3
Techniques found 1
Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center75%
Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

CatastropheUnited States of America US: Two jets collide midair at Idaho air show May 17, 2026Advertisement Two US fighter jets were involved in a midair collision on Sunday during an airshow near Mountain Home Air Force Base in the state of Idaho.

Why it matters

The crash occurred during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show, two miles (3.2 kilometers) from the US Air Force base, a spokesperson said.

Common ground

"Emergency responders are on the scene and investigation is underway and more details will be released as they become available," the spokesperson said.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/us-two-jets-collide-midair-at-idaho-air-show/a-77191396?ma…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 3 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 3
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Claim 1: “Videos posted on social media showed four parachutes opening as the planes fell to the ground after colliding.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results explicitly state that social media videos showed four parachutes deploying as the planes fell after the collision.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Medium-performance canopies (reserve-, BASE-, canopy formation-, and accuracy-type) are usually rectangular. High-performance, ram-air parachutes have a slightly tapered shape to their leading and/or …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Videos posted on social media showed four parachutes opening as the planes fell to the ground after colliding. This is a breaking story, more to come….The tiger escaped an enclosure run by a controver…
https://www.dw.com/en/us-two-jets-collide-midair-at-idaho-ai…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Video circulating on social media showed two fighter jets colliding midair before spinning toward the ground in a fiery crash amid black plumes of smoke. Four parachutes were visible deploying near th…
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/midair-jet-collision-fo…
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Claim 2: “The crash occurred during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show, two miles (3.2 kilometers) from the US Air Force base”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources identify the event as the 'Gunfighter Skies Air Show' (or 'Gunfighters Air Show') at Mountain Home Air Force Base. While the specific 'two miles' distance is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, the location and event name are corroborated across multiple reports.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of MIDAIR is a point or region in the air not immediately adjacent to the ground. How to use midair in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midair
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — MIDAIR definition: 1. a point in the air, not on the ground: 2. relating to a point in the air, not on the ground…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/midair
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — MIDAIR definition: any point in the air not contiguous with the earth or other solid surface. See examples of midair used in a sentence.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/midair
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Claim 3: “Two US fighter jets were involved in a midair collision on Sunday during an airshow near Mountain Home Air Force Base in the state of Idaho.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web search results confirm that two US fighter jets (specifically Navy F-18 Growlers) collided midair during an airshow at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho on Sunday, May 17.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Two jets crashed in midair at an air show in Idaho on Sunday, forcing the air base to be locked down. The two aircraft were taking part in the Gunfighters Air Show at the Mountain Home Air Force ...
https://nypost.com/2026/05/17/us-news/idaho-air-show-horror-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho was locked down Sunday following a midair collision during a local air show that sent two fighter jets crashing to the ground.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/midair-jet-collision-fo…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Two US Navy F-18 Growler jets crashed while performing at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho on Sunday, May 17. Initial reports indicate the jets collid…
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/midair-collision-sends-2-n…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.