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Saturday, Aug 01, 2026
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Valued at $109 Million: F-35B Fighter Jet Crashes in Southern California
An advanced stealth aircraft went down in an open field near San Diego, prompting a Class A military accident investigation after the pilot safely ejected.
An F-35B fighter jet crashed on Friday near the U.S. military's Miramar Air Force Base in Southern California.
The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft prior to impact and was subsequently evacuated to receive medical treatment.
The afternoon crash occurred in an open area just outside the base in San Diego.
In a subsequent statement, the Marine Corps designated the incident as a "Class A" mishap.
This classification represents the military's most severe accident category, which is applied in cases where resulting damages exceed $2 million, an aircraft is entirely destroyed, or a service member is killed.
The official statement did not provide further details regarding the pilot's medical condition, noting only that they had ejected, been rescued, and transported from the scene.
Aerial footage captured by a local news helicopter revealed a thick column of black smoke billowing from the charred wreckage in the open field, with numerous military vehicles, fire engines, and emergency response personnel cordoning off the area.
According to San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesperson Candice Hadley, local fire crews were dispatched to the scene following a brush fire that had ignited near the immediate vicinity of the crash.
The F-35B is one of several distinct variants of the highly advanced F-35 stealth platform.
Specifically designed for expeditionary operations, the "B" configuration features a specialized engine capable of executing short takeoffs as well as vertical landings.
A single aircraft of this model is valued at approximately $109 million.
The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft prior to impact and was subsequently evacuated to receive medical treatment.
The afternoon crash occurred in an open area just outside the base in San Diego.
In a subsequent statement, the Marine Corps designated the incident as a "Class A" mishap.
This classification represents the military's most severe accident category, which is applied in cases where resulting damages exceed $2 million, an aircraft is entirely destroyed, or a service member is killed.
The official statement did not provide further details regarding the pilot's medical condition, noting only that they had ejected, been rescued, and transported from the scene.
Aerial footage captured by a local news helicopter revealed a thick column of black smoke billowing from the charred wreckage in the open field, with numerous military vehicles, fire engines, and emergency response personnel cordoning off the area.
According to San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesperson Candice Hadley, local fire crews were dispatched to the scene following a brush fire that had ignited near the immediate vicinity of the crash.
The F-35B is one of several distinct variants of the highly advanced F-35 stealth platform.
Specifically designed for expeditionary operations, the "B" configuration features a specialized engine capable of executing short takeoffs as well as vertical landings.
A single aircraft of this model is valued at approximately $109 million.