A pilot has been rushed to the hospital after a US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed near a Southern California air base on Friday.
The pilot ejected from the F-35B before it crashed near the Miramar air base in San Diego, the US Marine Corps has confirmed. The advanced jet, valued at approximately $109 million, went down at about 10 a.m. local time.
The crash has been officially classified as a "Class A mishap" by the Marines.
"The pilot ejected, was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries,” the Marines Corps said.
Aerial footage from a news helicopter captured a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field. Multiple military and firefighting vehicles were visible at the scene, with what appeared to be white flame retardant covering the ground and personnel spraying the debris with a fire hose.
A witness described seeing the crash while driving on nearby Interstate 15 and said the aircraft flew over the freeway with its cockpit open before going down in "a big fireball." They reported seeing a parachute, presumably carrying the ejected pilot, floating down toward the ground.
The crash occurred near the flight line at the northern San Diego military station, according to 1st Lt. Blake Starbuck, a base spokesman.
The F-35B is a variant of the advanced stealth fighter jet utilized by the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. This particular "B" version is engineered for short takeoffs and is capable of vertical landings, showcasing its unique operational flexibility.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, the location of the crash, famously hosted the Navy fighter pilot training school depicted in the original Top Gun film, earning it the moniker "Fightertown USA" during its prime.
The school later relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada in 1996 after the base was transferred to the Marine Corps.
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