A United States Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter crashed into a field close to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 10:00 am local time. A base spokesperson confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft prior to impact.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene to extinguish the flames, and social media footage captured smoke billowing from the wreckage. The pilot was rescued and taken to a nearby medical center in stable condition with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
MCAS Miramar holds historical significance as the former location of the Navy’s elite Top Gun flight school, which gained fame through the 1986 film starring Tom Cruise. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, each F-35B variant features vertical takeoff capabilities and carries an estimated price tag of $109 million.
