F-35 military jet crashes at Miramar Marine Corps Air Base in San Diego
An F-35B fighter jet crashed near the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday morning. The pilot successfully ejected and is in stable condition, while authorities investigate the cause of the accident.
Why it matters
The crash of a high-cost, advanced military aircraft raises questions about safety and maintenance within the U.S. military's F-35 program.
MIRAMAR, SAN DIEGO (KABC) -- A military jet crashed Friday morning near the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, according to military officials.
The F-35B fighter jet was approaching the runway around 10 a.m. when it crashed short of the airfield, according to information obtained by ABC News. The pilot ejected before impact.
The pilot, who was the only person on board, was transported to a local medical facility and was reported to be in stable condition while being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Marine Corps.
Video from the scene showed a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field, with multiple military and firefighting vehicles and personnel nearby. What appeared to be white fire retardant covered the ground, and at least one person was spraying the wreckage with a fire hose.
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