Overview

• A carrier-capable F-35C from Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-125 went down in a Central California field on July 30, triggering a four-hectare grass fire.
• The pilot safely ejected via the jet’s ejection seat and suffered no injuries.
• Local fire crews extinguished the blaze at the crash site and the California Highway Patrol set up roadblocks around the area.
• This marks the second F-35 loss this year following a January F-35A crash in Alaska and comes after a DoD report flagged reliability shortfalls across the fleet.
• The incident has renewed scrutiny of the F-35 program’s high acquisition costs, maintenance challenges and overall operational readiness.