DID Press: A Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II operated by the United States Marine Corps crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Friday, with the pilot ejecting safely before impact, according to US military officials.
The Marine Corps said the pilot successfully ejected from the stealth fighter and was transported to a medical facility with minor injuries. Officials described the pilot’s condition as stable.
Aerial footage from the crash site showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage as military personnel and firefighters responded to extinguish the fire and secure the area. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
According to the Aviation Safety Network, the incident is at least the eighth accident involving US military aircraft this year.
The deadliest military aviation accident of the year occurred in June, when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff in the Mojave Desert, killing all eight people on board.