US Navy F-35C pilot ejected safely during jet crash

A US Navy F-35 fighter crashed into a cotton field just north of Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California.

The pilot, who was ejected safely, was found with a parachute in a nearby field. He was taken immediately to a hospital and was confirmed to be uninjured.

Video footage shows the scene of rising flames and thick smoke from the crash site.

Firefighters and California Patrol officers responding to the duty found the wreckage in a cotton field just north of Lemoore Naval Air Station.

A statement has been issued by Lockheed Martin stating, “We are aware of the F-35 incident at Naval Air Station Lemoore.”

Further declared, “Safety is our priority, and we are standing by to support the United States Navy as needed."

The reasons for the plane crash remain under investigation. The Navy has yet to disclose the purpose of the flight. A military inquiry is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

Recently, an F-35 went down in an incident that occurred in Alaska in late January, according to data compiled by the Anadolu agency. 

It marks the second F-35 crash of the year, and concerns have been raised regarding the aircraft’s safety record.

Meanwhile, the January 2025 report from the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation for the Defense Department director shows that all variants of this multimillion-dollar aircraft have completely failed and require increased reliability and maintenance.

“The operational suitability of the F-35 fleet continues to fall short of service expectations,” the report said.

It is pertinent to note that the F-35 carries an estimated price tag of $100 million per unit and has been involved in a total of about 12 crashes since 2018.