CNN
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Two Marine aviators who died when their plane crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state last week had just returned from a deployment to the Middle East in which they took part in attacks against the Houthis in Yemen.

Lt Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, 31, died when their EA-18G Growler fighter jet crashed on Tuesday. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The two airmen had just returned from the Middle East, where they were stationed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as part of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, operating against the Iranian-backed Houthis and defending attacked international shipping lanes.

Capt. Chris “Chowdah” Hill, the commanding officer of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, mourned the loss of the two airmen. “These warriors from VAQ-130 will forever be part of the Ike family as they heroically served alongside us during our recent deployment. I loved working with both of them – just incredible energy and beautiful souls.”

Wileman, whose Navy call sign was “Dug,” was awarded three Strike Flight Air Medals for her role in combat missions conducted between December and March of last year.

Evans, whose Navy call sign was “Miley,” was awarded Single Action Air Medals for his participation in a comprehensive series of strikes against Houthi targets on Jan. 12 and again on Jan. 22, according to the Navy. She was a training officer for her squadron, deployed as part of Carrier Air Wing Three.

According to the Navy, Evans participated in several combat missions against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, making her one of the first women to fly combat missions over land. She also received three Strike Flight Air Medals for her contribution to missions flown between December and March.

A year earlier, Evans took part in a much more public mission as part of the all-female Super Bowl flyover, which marked the 50th anniversary of women in the Navy.

“It’s just super exciting to have the honor of being selected,” Evans told Seattle’s King 5 before Super Bowl LVII.

Evans and Wileman were on a routine training mission near Mount Rainier last week when their plane crashed. Due to poor weather conditions and difficult terrain, the search for their downed fighter aircraft took three days. Search and rescue teams eventually found the plane's remains in a “remote, steep and heavily wooded area” about 6,000 feet east of Rainier, the Navy said.

The two often flew together on an EA-18G, a modified version of an F/A-18 fighter jet, according to the Navy.