F-35B stealth jet crashes near San Diego's Miramar base; pilot ejects and is in stable condition

The crash

On Friday morning, a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter crashed in a dirt field near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. The Marine Corps classified the incident as a "Class A mishap," the most severe category, which applies when damage exceeds $2 million, an aircraft is destroyed, or a service member is killed. A single F-35B costs about $109 million. Aerial video from a news helicopter showed a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage, with military and firefighting vehicles nearby and white flame retardant covering the ground. At least one responder was spraying the wreckage with a fire hose.

Pilot’s condition

The pilot ejected before impact, was recovered, and was transported to a local medical facility. In a later statement, the Marine Corps said the pilot was in stable condition with injuries that were not life-threatening. The pilot’s identity has not been released.

“The pilot was recovered and transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.”

Fire response

Candace Hadley, a spokesperson for San Diego Fire, said firefighters were on scene to respond to a vegetation fire that ignited near the crash site. Video from Fox 5 San Diego showed grey smoke and a fire engine dousing the flames with water. Hadley referred further questions to Miramar.

“Firefighters were on scene to respond to a vegetation fire that sparked near the crash site.”

Investigation begins

Officials have not determined what caused the crash. The Marine Corps said an investigation is under way, and mishap probes can take several months. The Guardian noted that last month a Marine fighter jet crashed in Washington in what federal authorities described as a non-fatal aviation mishap. The F-35B is the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing variant flown by the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.

Miramar’s aviation legacy

MCAS Miramar housed the Navy fighter pilot training school that inspired the 1986 film "Top Gun" and was known as "Fightertown USA" during its heyday. The school moved to Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada in 1996 after the base transferred to the Marine Corps. Today it remains a hub for F-35 operations.