LOS ANGELES, Aug 1 — A US F-35 fighter jet crashed yesterday near a military base in San Diego, but the pilot was able to eject before impact, officials said.
“There was an aviation mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity” of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at about 10am (1700 GMT/1am Malaysian time), a spokesman for the base told AFP.
“The pilot was ejected and has been recovered.”
A later statement from the military base said the pilot had been transported to a medical facility “in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.”
Footage circulated on social media showing a plume of smoke rising from the aircraft, as firefighters were deployed to douse the flames.
MCAS Miramar is known around the world as the one-time home of the US Navy’s “Top Gun” school for elite pilots, immortalised in the 1986 film Top Gun starring Tom Cruise.
Each F-35B, the variant of the stealth fighter jet with vertical takeoff and landing capability, costs about US$109 million (RM445 million), according to maker Lockheed Martin. — AFP
Date: 1 August, 2026 11:00 am
Source: Malay Mail
💬 Join the Conversation! 💬
We’ve disabled comments on our posts and pages to keep the discussions organized and lively! But don’t worry – the conversation isn’t over. Head over to our forum and share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback with the community! It’s the perfect place to connect, learn, and engage with others who care about the same things. We can’t wait to hear from you!