San Diego, Aug. 1 (V7N) – A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, on Friday, with the pilot ejecting safely moments before the aircraft went down, according to Reuters.
The pilot survived the crash and was rescued immediately. However, military authorities did not release details about the pilot's condition.
The aircraft crashed near the runway at Miramar Air Station on Friday (July 31) local time. A US military spokesperson described the incident as an "accident," adding that the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Video footage from the scene showed multiple emergency response vehicles rushing to the area, while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze using water and fire-suppressing chemicals.
The crash also ignited a grass fire in the surrounding area, leaving sections of the ground scorched and blackened before the flames were brought under control.
The F-35 is the United States' most advanced stealth fighter aircraft and is produced in three main variants for different branches of the military. The F-35B, designed for short takeoff and vertical landing operations, is used by the US Marine Corps and can also operate from amphibious assault ships.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what caused the aircraft to crash, and an official investigation is underway.
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