F-35B stealth fighter crashed in California, US Marine Corps says
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F-35B stealth fighter crashed in California, US Marine Corps says

Economy World


The US Marine Corps says the pilot of an F-35B stealth fighter is expected to live after ejecting from the jet before it crashed in California.

The jet went down Friday near the Miramar airbase in San Diego. A Marines statement called it a “Class A mishap”. A single F-35B fighter jet costs about US$109 million.

“The pilot ejected, was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries,” the Marine Corps said in an updated statement.

Aerial video from a news helicopter showed a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field, with multiple military and firefighting vehicles and people standing nearby.

What appeared to be white flame retardant covered the ground, and at least one person was spraying the wreckage with a fire hose.

Crews work to douse a F-35 fighter jet that crashed near the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday. Photo: The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP
Crews work to douse a F-35 fighter jet that crashed near the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday. Photo: The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP

Candace Hadley, a spokeswoman for San Diego Fire, said firefighters were on scene to respond to a vegetation fire that sparked near the crash site. She referred additional questions to Miramar.