F-35B Crash at MCAS Miramar Prompts Emergency Response
An F-35B fighter jet assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, crashed Friday morning on the flight line at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. The incident occurred at about 10 a.m. local time and led to an emergency response by military and local authorities.
The pilot ejected from the aircraft and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition, according to a Marine Corps statement released Friday afternoon. Officials said the pilot’s injuries were not life-threatening and that the individual was undergoing evaluation and treatment. No other injuries were reported in the initial account.
The crash ignited a brush fire in a field north of State Route 52, producing smoke and flames visible from the freeway. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department assisted with the fire, while noting that the military retained jurisdiction over the incident. Aerial footage showed the aircraft separated into two sections within a large scorched area.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. A Marine Corps spokesperson said information was not immediately available about the flight’s purpose or whether the aircraft was departing, arriving or participating in a training mission. Officials also did not provide a timetable for releasing additional findings.
The F-35B is the short-takeoff and vertical-landing version of the F-35 Lightning II, a stealth fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The Marine Corps uses the aircraft for air-to-air combat, strike missions and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
MCAS Miramar hosts the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the Marine Corps’ primary aviation force on the West Coast. The base supports fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft used for training and operational missions. As with other aviation mishaps, investigators will examine the circumstances and assess whether preventive changes are warranted afterward.