A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed in California on Wednesday near the Naval Air Station Lemoore, the Navy said in a statement. The pilot ejected safely. The cause of the crash, which took place at about 6:30pm local time, is under investigation.
The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the ‘Rough Raiders’, according to the Navy. VF-125 serves as a Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training pilots and aircrew. Naval Air Station Lemoore is situated about 40 miles (64 kilometres) south-west of the city of Fresno in central California.
Footage of the crash, widely circulated on social media, shows the wreckage ablaze in open farmland as a thick black smoke rises from the scene. Local emergency medical services and Cal Fire responded swiftly and assisted the pilot, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
In a similar incident earlier this year, an Air Force F-35A crashed during a training mission at Alaska’s Eielson Air Force Base in January. The pilot managed to eject safely in that incident as well.
The F-35C variant involved in the California crash is one of three versions of the F-35 Lightning II. Designed for aircraft carrier operations, the jet costs around $100 million and is considered one of the most advanced warplanes in the world due to its stealth and combat capabilities.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the fifth-generation fighter jet forms a crucial part of the US military’s fleet. According to the company, more than 17 countries are involved in the F-35 programme. However, in recent years, the aircraft has faced growing scrutiny over concerns related to maintenance and operational readiness.
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