Overview
- A Marine Corps F-35B crashed just before the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Friday and produced a large plume of smoke visible for miles.
- The pilot activated the ejection system, was recovered by rescuers at the scene, and was taken to a medical center for evaluation and care.
- Base and airport fire crews used foam to douse the wreckage and suppressed a nearby grass fire while emergency teams cooled the site.
- The Pentagon and Marine officials confirmed the jet was an F-35B, the short takeoff/vertical landing variant of the F-35 family that costs roughly $100 million per aircraft.
- Military authorities have classified the mishap as a major incident and opened a formal investigation that will review flight data, maintenance records, and witness footage with further updates expected.