"From a Navy standpoint, we do hold our aircrew to the highest standards and this is absolutely unacceptable. It has zero training value and the aircrew is being held accountable." US Navy Spokesman Thomas Mills said in a statement, and confirmed that the aircraft involved is a Boeing EA-18G Growler, carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft.
"This event clearly stands in stark contrast to the way our aviators and Sailors are performing with utmost professionalism, discipline and excellence from our carrier flight decks and expeditionary airfields around the world today," Navy "Air Boss" Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker said, noting that sophomoric and immature antics have no place in the Naval aviation.
Shoemaker added that the said pilot is assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and has already been grounded. The name of the pilot was not revealed. Apparently, the incident is not the first of its kind. Last August, an RAF fighter pilot drew a penis on radars monitoring skies over Lincolnshire, England.
But while the US Navy has already apologized for the obscene skywriting and noted that it did not appear to pose a safety risk, many American parents were offended. On social media, some of them said they had a hard time explaining to their children what they saw in the sky. Here in the Philippines, Kris Aquino was one of those who condemned the act.
“My sons and I were reading some news tweets when we saw it. I must admit, I thought it was funny at first, but immediately I realized I have young children to protect. As a parent, I believe this is totally unacceptable, I hope our pilots here will not do the same thing.” Kris Aquino wrote on Facebook. Nevertheless, she did not share the controversial photo.
Contributed by Karenina Saulo
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