US Marine Corps F35B Stealth Fighter Crashes Near San Diego, Pilot Ejects Safely

A US Marine Corps F35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, on Friday after the pilot escaped by ejecting just seconds before the aircraft slammed into the ground.

The Marine Corps said the pilot suffered non life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. The jet belonged to Marine Aircraft Group 11 under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The crash happened at around 10 am local time as the fighter was making its final approach to the runway. Witness Wade Lott said two fighter jets were landing one behind the other. The first landed safely, but the second suddenly slowed, almost as if it was trying to hover. As the aircraft dropped to about 100 feet, the pilot pulled the ejection handle. The parachute opened instantly and carried the pilot to safety. Seconds later, the fighter crashed, skidded across the ground and exploded into a huge fireball.

"It just blew up, it was crazy," Lott said. "The jet hit the ground right next to another plane. It plowed into the runway and just blew up."

Television footage showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage as firefighters and military crews rushed in. The impact also sparked a vegetation fire, which was quickly put out. No one on the ground was hurt.

The Marine Corps has classified the accident as a Class A mishap, its most serious aviation accident category. Officials have not said what caused the crash, and an investigation is underway.

The F35B, built by Lockheed Martin, is the short takeoff and vertical landing version of the stealth fighter and costs about USD 109 million per aircraft. The US military operates more than 630 F35s. This is the second US F35 crash reported in 2026, following the loss of a US Air Force F35A in Nevada in March.