Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
05/25/2026
Navy jet crews survive midair collision during air show
Four Navy crew members were recovering after ejecting from two modified fighter jets that collided in midair during an aerial maneuver at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show in Idaho. No one was injured on the ground when jets crashed and exploded at the Mountain Home Air Force Base. The jets were a variant of the F-18 known as a Growler, and reportedly cost a combined $134 million. An aviation safety expert said it appeared that pilot error caused the accident during a challenging rendezvous between the aircraft.
■Class discussion: Is watching planes and crews making dangerous aerial maneuvers the reason for air shows? Should the military use aircraft costing hundreds of millions of dollars to entertain crowds with dangerous stunts? Why does the U.S. military put on air shows or perform flyovers at sporting events? Are shows, stunts, and parades a wise way of using expensive military equipment along with hundreds of soldiers, sailors, or airmen? Why have countries displayed their military power to the public for thousands of years?
