San Diego, United States: A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet crashed during a routine flight operation at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, on July 31, prompting a major emergency response, igniting a brush fire and triggering an official investigation into the cause of the accident. The pilot, who was the only person onboard, ejected safely moments before impact and survived with non life threatening injuries. No fatalities or injuries on the ground were reported.
The aircraft involved was an F-35B Lightning II, the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the fifth generation stealth fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin and operated by the US Marine Corps. According to the Marine Corps, the aircraft was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, based at MCAS Miramar.
The crash occurred at approximately 10 am local time on the air station’s flightline near the runway. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft attempting what appeared to be a hover or vertical flight maneuver before it suddenly descended, crashed and erupted into flames. Television footage from the scene showed the fighter breaking into major sections while thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage. The impact also sparked a small vegetation or brush fire that was quickly contained by emergency crews.
The Marine Corps confirmed the pilot successfully ejected at a very low altitude before the aircraft struck the ground. The pilot was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non life threatening injuries. Officials said no other people were aboard the aircraft and no civilian casualties were reported.
In its official statement, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar said, “Emergency personnel responded this morning to an aircraft mishap on the flightline of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at approximately 10:00 am local time today, involving an F-35B assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.” The service later added, “The pilot ejected, was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non life threatening injuries.”
The Marine Corps classified the event as a Class A mishap, the military’s most serious accident category. A Class A mishap is designated when an aircraft is destroyed, damage exceeds USD 2 million or a fatality occurs. In this case, the classification reflects the destruction of the aircraft even though the pilot survived.
Authorities have not determined or announced the cause of the crash. Military officials said the incident remains under investigation and have not indicated whether it resulted from a mechanical failure, pilot error or another factor. No preliminary findings have been released.
The F-35B is one of three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter family and is uniquely capable of short takeoff and vertical landing operations, allowing it to operate from amphibious assault ships and austere airfields. The aircraft has an estimated unit cost of about USD 109 million and forms a key part of the US Marine Corps’ tactical aviation fleet.
