US F-35B stealth fighter crashes in California, pilot ejected

A US Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter jet crashed near Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego, California, on Friday. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft before impact and was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation and treatment of injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

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The pilot ejected and was taken to a local medical center in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Video footage captured by a news helicopter showed a column of black smoke rising from the crash site in a field. Military and fire vehicles were present, with personnel appearing to apply fire retardant to the debris. A witness, Wade Lott, described seeing two planes descending, with the second one suddenly decelerating before the pilot ejected. Lott observed the jet hit the ground near another aircraft, creating an explosion.

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It just exploded, it was crazy.

The San Diego Fire Department responded to a brush fire near the crash site. The Marine Corps has classified the incident as a "Class A mishap," the most serious category, which is used when damages exceed $2 million, an aircraft is destroyed, or a service member dies. This designation highlights the severity and cost of the accident.

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The plane hit the ground right next to another plane. It made its way across the runway and just exploded.

The F-35B is a variant of the F-35 fighter jet, known for its engine designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings. A single F-35B costs approximately $109 million. According to a 2024 Government Accountability Office analysis, the combined F-35 fleet for the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force exceeds 630 aircraft, with an estimated total cost of $2 trillion at that time. The F-35 program has experienced other Class A mishaps since 2000, with at least 17 recorded in the Air Force alone.

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Class A mishap