The $100 million aircraft went down near Naval Air Station Lemoore during a training mission. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed in central California on Wednesday evening near Naval Air Station Lemoore. The pilot, who was assigned to a training squadron, ejected safely before the advanced aircraft went down in open farmland. A Navy press statement confirmed that the cause of the crash, which occurred around 6:30 p.m., is now under investigation.
The incident prompted a swift emergency response. Video from the scene showed fire and thick black smoke rising from the crash site, located about 40 miles southwest of Fresno. A Fresno County Sheriff’s Office statement confirmed that a local EMS crew was on the scene assisting the pilot and that Cal Fire had also responded to the incident.
The aircraft was identified as an F-35C, the variant designed for use on US aircraft carriers, and was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, the “Rough Raiders.” This squadron serves as a Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training new pilots and aircrew for the F-35 fleet. The loss of the aircraft represents a cost of around $100 million.
This is the second crash of an F-35 this year. In January, a US Air Force F-35A crashed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska during a training mission, where the pilot also ejected safely.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter jet considered a cornerstone of the US military's air power and one of the world's most advanced warplanes. It is lauded for its stealth and combat capabilities, and more than 17 countries worldwide are part of the F-35 program. However, the costly jet has faced increased scrutiny in recent years over persistent maintenance and readiness issues.
The pilot is safe and the immediate fire has been addressed, but the investigation into the cause of the crash is just beginning. This incident will likely add to the ongoing debate surrounding the F-35 program's operational costs and reliability as the military continues to rely on it as its primary fighter jet for the foreseeable future.
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