A U.S. military F-35B fighter jet crashed and caught fire in California on Friday (July 31), shortly before landing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.
According to CNN, the aircraft was destroyed in the crash, while a massive plume of smoke rose into the sky and was visible from a considerable distance.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing confirmed that the single-seat F-35B Lightning II, operated by Marine Aircraft Group 11, crashed near the runway shortly before 10 a.m. local time on Friday. The aircraft caught fire immediately after the crash, with flames also spreading to nearby grass. Airport firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control using foam.
According to audio recordings published by LiveATC.net, the air traffic control tower alerted emergency crews that the aircraft had crashed during the final moments of its landing approach. However, the pilot successfully ejected using a parachute before the aircraft struck the ground.
The pilot was rescued and taken to a local hospital. Doctors said the pilot was in stable condition and was not considered to be in critical danger.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. Unlike civilian aviation accidents, which are typically investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, the investigation into this military crash will be conducted by the U.S. military under its own procedures.
The F-35B Lightning II is considered one of the world's most advanced stealth fighter aircraft. More than 50 feet long, the aircraft is capable of conventional flight as well as short takeoffs and vertical landings, allowing it to operate in a manner similar to a helicopter.
The aircraft is operated by the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the air forces of the United Kingdom and Italy. According to information from the aircraft's manufacturer, each F-35B costs approximately $102 million to produce.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is a major U.S. military installation in San Diego, where approximately 15,000 military personnel from across the U.S. armed forces are stationed.
