SAN DIEGO, California – A U.S. Marine Corps pilot ejected safely before an F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday. The aircraft was destroyed, but the pilot suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The Marine Corps said the pilot was taken to a local hospital in stable condition for evaluation and treatment. Officials have not identified the cause of the crash, and investigators are working to determine what happened.
Television footage from a news helicopter showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field near the air station. Firefighters and military personnel quickly responded to the scene. Crews used fire retardant to extinguish the blaze and secure the crash site.
Witness Describes Pilot’s Escape
Witness Wade Lott said he saw two military jets approaching the runway while driving near the flight line.
According to Lott, the first aircraft landed normally. The second appeared to slow dramatically, almost as if preparing to hover.
Moments later, the pilot ejected at a low altitude.
Lott said the parachute opened just before the aircraft struck the ground and exploded. He estimated the pilot ejected from about 100 feet (30 meters) above the ground.
San Diego Fire Department spokesperson Candace Hadley said firefighters also responded to a vegetation fire caused by the crash. She referred additional questions to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
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Investigation Focuses on Cause
The Marine Corps classified the accident as a Class A mishap, the military’s most serious accident category.
A Class A mishap involves the loss of an aircraft, a service member’s death, or property damage exceeding $2 million.
Investigators will examine the aircraft, flight data and other evidence to determine what caused the crash.
F-35B Among Military’s Most Advanced Aircraft
The F-35B is designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings, making it well suited for Marine Corps expeditionary operations.
According to a 2024 Government Accountability Office analysis cited by The Associated Press, a single F-35B costs about $109 million.
The report also said the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force collectively operate more than 630 F-35 aircraft.
It estimated the overall F-35 program will cost about $2 trillion after the planned purchase of more than 1,800 additional aircraft and decades of maintenance and operational support.
Previous F-35 Mishaps Remain Limited
The F-35 is widely regarded as one of the U.S. military’s most advanced fighter aircraft.
According to the Lexington Institute, a defense research organization, the aircraft has recorded relatively few crashes during its early years of service compared with several earlier fighter programs.
Air Force Safety Center data cited by The Associated Press show at least 17 other Class A mishaps involving F-35 aircraft have occurred within the Air Force since 2000.
The Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network also lists at least seven other U.S. military aircraft mishaps this year.
Several previous F-35 crashes have ended with pilots ejecting safely.
In one of the most recent cases, an Air Force pilot survived after an F-35 crashed near Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico in May 2024 while flying from Texas to a military base in California.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
