An accident occurred in Fresno County, California: a jet plane crashed in a field and caught fire, US media reported on Wednesday.
The crash happened at around 6:30 p.m. local time near Lemoore Air Force Base. Emergency services quickly arrived at the crash site.
According to witnesses, the pilot managed to eject and is currently receiving medical attention.
According to preliminary information, the crashed aircraft was an F-35 Lightning II strike fighter belonging to either the US Navy or the Marine Corps. All details of the incident will be clarified as part of a federal investigation.
Later, representatives of Lemur Air Base confirmed that the crashed F-35 was part of the VF-125 training squadron, known as the Rough Raiders. The unit is responsible for training fighter pilots and crews.
The F-35 is a stealthy, multi-role fifth-generation fighter designed for air combat, ground attack, and reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions.
On January 29, another F-35 fighter jet crashed in Alaska.
In May 2024, another F-35 crashed in New Mexico. The aircraft crashed outside the Albuquerque airfield. The pilot survived, and the aircraft was en route to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
According to CNN, the F-35 is considered one of the most advanced combat aircraft in the US. However, in recent years, this model has raised increasing concerns due to maintenance and operational issues.
