US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashes near San Diego base

US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashes near San Diego base

A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San Diego, California, during a training flight on Friday. The aircraft collided with the ground and caught fire around 10:00 a.m. Local time in an open area near the base.

The pilot survived the incident by successfully ejecting at a low altitude moments before the crash. According to military officials, the pilot was recovered and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The aircraft was assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 11. A spokesperson for MCAS Miramar described the event as a mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity of MCAS Miramar.

Emergency personnel responded to the crash site, where aerial and television footage showed dense black smoke billowing from the wreckage. The impact started a small vegetation fire; however, officials stated it was immediately contained, preventing it from spreading to surrounding facilities. There were no reported civilian injuries or deaths at the scene.

The Marine Corps has categorized the incident as a Class A aviation mishap, which is the most serious category. The F-35B, a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) derivative of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II, is among the most advanced stealth fighters in the US military. The aircraft involved in this crash is expected to cost over $109 million.

MCAS Miramar is a major military aviation base hosting about 15,000 service members from all branches of the US military. While the base is well-known for its history as the original home of the Navy’s elite Fighter Weapons School, that school has since relocated to Nevada.

This accident follows a series of recent US military aircraft mishaps. In June, an F/A-18 Hornet from Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at MCAS Miramar, crashed near Rimrock Lake in Washington state during routine training. That incident sparked a wildfire and resulted in the pilot suffering minor injuries after ejecting. Additionally, in May, a T-38 Talon II training jet from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi crashed in Fayette County, Alabama, though both pilots ejected safely.

Despite the current incident, military authorities continue to regard the fifth-generation fighter as one of the safest combat aircraft in US service. But the recent string of incidents has heightened concerns regarding the safety record of the F-35.

An official investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators plan to review pilot reports, maintenance logs, and flight data to ascertain why the aircraft went down.