In a shocking incident, a US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in California on Wednesday, as per a Zee News TV report.
According to reports, the pilot of the crashed jet successfully ejected and is safe. No one was injured in the incident.
"An F-35 fighter jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California. The pilot successfully ejected and is safe. There are no additional affected personnel," reports Reuters, citing a statement from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
According to CNN, the jet crashed at approximately 6:30 p.m. in a flat, open farmland area near Naval Air Station Lemoore, located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Fresno in central California. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire assisting at the scene https://t.co/CwBTc1jSmB pic.twitter.com/mo5b6FAH4K
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As per CNN, the crashed jet belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, nicknamed the “Rough Raiders.” VF-125 serves as a Fleet Replacement Squadron, tasked with training new pilots and aircrew members.
According to media reports, the $100 million aircraft crash was the second F-35 crash this year. Earlier in January, an Air Force F-35A fighter jet crashed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska during a training exercise. The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft in that incident.
F-35 Fighter Jet
The F-35 Lightning II is a family of advanced stealth multirole fighter jets developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States and its allies.
F-35 jets feature a single engine, one-seat configuration, and can operate in all weather conditions.
The F-35 is built to carry out various missions, including gaining air superiority, strike operations, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks.
Countries operating the F-35 include the US, UK, Australia, Israel, Japan, and many NATO members.
