F-35B jet crashed near Marine Corps in San Diego, pilot ejected safely – officials | US military

An F-35B fighter jet crashed near a US Marine Corps base in San Diego on Friday morning, sparking a small fire that first responders doused.

The pilot, who has not been publicly identified, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to a statement from the Marine Corps Miramar air base. Officials say the pilot is in stable condition and received treatment at a local medical facility.

Video footage from station Fox 5 San Diego captured grey smoke wafting from the downed aircraft.

It’s unclear what led to the crash, which officials characterized as a “Class A mishap”. That’s the most severe mishap category, used when the damage totals more than $2m, an aircraft is destroyed or a service member killed.

A single F-35B fighter jet costs about $109m.

Candace Hadley, a spokesperson 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.

The F-35B is one of several versions of the advanced stealth fighter jet that is flown by the Marine Corps, navy and air force. The “B” version has an engine that is designed for short takeoffs and is capable of vertical landings.

Last month, a Marine fighter jet crashed in Washington. Federal authorities described it as a “non-fatal aviation mishap”, according to the Yakima Herald-Republic. Mishap investigations reportedly can take several months.