LOS ANGELES: A US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday, but the pilot safely ejected before impact and survived with non-life-threatening injuries, military officials said.
“There was an aviation mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity” of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at about 10:00 am local time (1700 GMT), a spokesperson for the base told AFP.
“The pilot was ejected and has been recovered.”
🚨 BREAKING: Emergency crews are responding to an apparent F-35 aircraft incident at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego after the mishap was reported Friday morning. Authorities have not disclosed what happened, and it remains unclear whether there are any injuries.…
— Sajjad Tarakzai (@SajjadTarakzai) July 31, 2026
In a later statement, the military said the pilot had been taken to a medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities did not immediately disclose the cause of the crash, and an investigation into the incident is expected.
Footage circulating on social media showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as firefighters battled the blaze.
Home of ‘Top Gun’
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is internationally known as the former home of the US Navy’s elite “Top Gun” fighter pilot school, made famous by the 1986 film Top Gun starring Tom Cruise.
The F-35B is the short take-off and vertical landing variant of the fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Lockheed Martin.
According to the manufacturer, each F-35B aircraft costs approximately $109 million.
