- F-35B jet crashed near the Marine Corps in San Diego, sparking a vegetation fire.
- The pilot ejected safely, according to officials.
- San Diego Fire responded to a vegetation fire near the crash site, and a spokesperson referred further questions to Miramar.
An F-35B fighter jet crashed near MCAS Miramar in San Diego on Friday morning, igniting a vegetation fire that firefighters quickly extinguished. The pilot, who has not been publicly identified, ejected safely and was transported to a local medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Marine Corps.124
The crash is classified as a “Class A mishap”, indicating significant damage exceeding $2 million, or potential loss of life. The F-35B, valued at approximately $109 million, is designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings, making it a crucial asset for the Marine Corps.
Candace Hadley, a spokesperson for San Diego Fire, confirmed that firefighters responded to the vegetation fire near the crash site. Investigations into the mishap are expected to take several months, as this incident marks one of at least seven military aircraft mishaps reported in the U.S. this year, according to the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network database.
Despite this incident, the F-35s are regarded as the safest and most capable fighter jets in the military's fleet, with fewer crashes reported since their adoption in 2015 compared to other fighter jets during their early years. Fatal crashes involving F-35s are rare, according to the Lexington Institute, which specializes in defense technology and national security.
“Candace Hadley, a San Diego Fire spokesperson, said firefighters were on scene to respond to the fire near the crash site. She referred further questions to Miramar, the Marine Corps air station in San Diego.”
The Guardian
