US Navy F-35 crashes in California, pilot ejects safely

A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed in California on Wednesday near the Naval Air Station Lemoore. According to the US Navy press release, a major tragedy was averted since the pilot ejected safely from the doomed aircraft.

The crash occurred at 6:30 pm (local time), and the cause of the incident is still unknown. According to the US Navy statement, the aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the “Rough Raiders.” It is pertinent to note that VF-125 is a Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training pilots and aircrews.

Naval Air Station Lemoore is located around 40 miles southwest of the city of Fresno in central California. Videos circulating online showed fire and thick smoke rising from the crash site near an open farmland air station.

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A local EMS crew was at the scene helping the pilot who had ejected from the aircraft. The crashed jet was an F-35C, one of three variants of the F-35 Lightning II jet. It is designed for use on US aircraft carriers. It is pertinent to note that the US Air Force flies the F-35A while the Marine Corps flies the F-35B, a short takeoff, vertical landing jet.

According to CNN, the crashed aircraft is priced at around $100 million and was the second F-35 this year. The incident came months after an Air Force F-35A crashed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska in January during a training mission. The pilot also ejected safely in the incident at that time.

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The F-35, a fifth-generation fighter jet and is touted as one of the world’s most advanced warplanes. It is also seen as the cornerstone of the American military fleet. The jets are manufactured by Lockheed Martin and are known for their advanced stealth and combat capabilities.

More than 17 countries around the world are currently part of the F-35 program, according to the Lockheed Martin Website. However, the jets have been facing increased scrutiny in recent years, with many raising maintenance and readiness issues.

This is a developing story.