01 August,2026 01:21 PM IST | Washington | AP
The aircraft went down Friday afternoon near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Pic/ X
The US Marine Corps said an F-35B fighter jet crashed near a Southern California air base on Friday, with the pilot safely ejecting before being taken to a medical facility.
The aircraft went down Friday afternoon near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. In a statement, the Marine Corps described the incident as a "Class A mishap" - the military's most severe accident category, which applies when damage exceeds USD 2 million, a military aircraft is destroyed, or a service member is killed.
The statement did not disclose the pilot's condition but confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected, was recovered, and transported to a medical facility for evaluation.
Aerial footage from a news helicopter showed thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage in a dirt field. Multiple military personnel, firefighters, and emergency vehicles were seen at the site. White fire-retardant foam covered parts of the crash area, while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.
Candace Hadley, spokesperson for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, said firefighters responded to a vegetation fire that broke out near the crash site following the accident. She referred further inquiries to officials at MCAS Miramar.
The F-35B is one of several variants of the advanced stealth fighter aircraft operated by the US Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. The "B" variant is designed for short take-offs and vertical landings (STOVL), enabling it to operate from shorter runways and amphibious assault ships.
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