An American F-35B stealth fighter jet went down on Friday morning near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Marine Corps representative Steven Keenan confirmed the incident, noting that the pilot safely ejected from the aircraft at approximately 10:00 am local time.
Military officials reported that the pilot was recovered and subsequently taken to a nearby hospital. The individual is currently in stable condition and is receiving care for injuries that are not considered life-threatening. Social media footage captured smoke billowing from the site of the crash as emergency crews worked to extinguish the resulting fire.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is historically significant as the former location of the Navy’s Top Gun pilot training program, which gained fame from the 1986 feature film. The F-35B model, which features unique vertical landing and takeoff capabilities, carries an estimated price tag of $109 million per unit.
