F-35B Jet Fighter Crashes in California, Pilot Remains Safe After Incident

US Marine Corps Reports F-35B Stealth Fighter Crash in San Diego

A US Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter plane has crashed near the Miramar airbase in San Diego, California. The incident occurred on Friday and resulted in the pilot ejecting from the aircraft.

According to a statement released by the Marine Corps, the pilot was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Aerial footage captured by a news helicopter showed a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field, with multiple military vehicles and personnel present at the scene. Firefighters were also on site to respond to a vegetation fire that had sparked near the crash site.

The Miramar airbase, which previously hosted the Navy’s fighter pilot training school, has been home to over 630 F-35s, according to a 2024 analysis by the Government Accountability Office. The F-35B is one of several versions of the aircraft, with an engine designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings.

The incident marks the latest in a series of military aircraft crashes in the United States this year, with at least seven other incidents reported by the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network database.

Source: Al Jazeera