Overview

• The F-35C Lightning II assigned to NAS Lemoore’s VFA-125 squadron crashed into an agricultural field roughly five miles from the runway on July 30.
• The pilot activated the Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat and was released from medical care with no serious injuries.
• Cal Fire and Fresno County crews quickly contained a small brush fire sparked by the impact.
• Select Navy F-35Cs have been grounded pending preliminary findings from the joint Safety Center and Lockheed Martin investigation.
• This marks the twelfth F-35 crash since 2018 and highlights a reported mission-readiness rate of only 51% in a recent government evaluation.