Military F-35B fighter jet crashes and burns at California Marine Corps base
A US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed near the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. The pilot successfully ejected and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Why it matters
The incident involves a high-profile, expensive military asset and raises questions about the safety and operational status of the F-35 program.
A fighter jet crashed and erupted into flames at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California on Friday, sending smoke billowing into the sky that could be seen from miles away. The single-seat F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, went down short of the runway just before 10 a.m. PT. “The pilot ejected (and) was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries,” according to a statement from the wing. Airport fire crews sprayed the wreckage with firefighting foam and worked to extinguish a grass fire surrounding the crash site. “F-35 short final crash,” the Miramar air traffic control tower told firefighters in audio recorded by LiveATC.net.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in