Key points
- Jet was assigned to training squadron “Rough Raiders”
- F-35 programme faces reliability and maintenance concerns
- Second F-35 crash reported in 2025 alone
ISLAMABAD: A US Navy F-35C fighter jet crashed on Wednesday evening near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California, the Navy confirmed in an official statement. The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 pm local time.
A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashes in central California near Naval Air Station Lemoore, according to a Navy press statement.
The pilot ejected safely, and the cause of the crash, which occurred around 6:30 pm, is under investigation, the statement said.
A local EMS crew was at… pic.twitter.com/axpGUTVUOc
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The pilot safely ejected and was assisted at the scene by emergency services. According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, local paramedics and crews from Cal Fire responded promptly to the crash site, which was located in open farmland around 40 miles (64 kilometres) southwest of Fresno, reports CNN.
Video footage from the scene showed flames and thick black smoke rising from the wreckage.
“Rough Raiders”
The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the “Rough Raiders”. This squadron functions as a Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training Navy pilots and aircrew members.
The jet involved was an F-35C—one of three variants of the F-35 Lightning II. The F-35C is designed for aircraft carrier operations, while the F-35A is operated by the US Air Force, and the F-35B, capable of short take-offs and vertical landings, is flown by the Marine Corps.
Valued at approximately $100 million, the jet is among the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, developed by Lockheed Martin. Despite its cutting-edge stealth and combat capabilities, the F-35 programme has come under growing scrutiny due to recurring maintenance and readiness issues.
Second F-35 crash
This was the second F-35 crash reported this year. In January, a US Air Force F-35A crashed during a training mission at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The pilot in that incident also ejected safely.
According to FlightGlobal’s World Air Forces database, the US Air Force currently operates 246 F-35s, the Marine Corps 122, and the Navy 41. Globally, over 17 nations are involved in the F-35 programme, states Lockheed Martin.
However, concerns about the aircraft’s long-term viability remain. A January 2025 report from the US Department of Defense’s Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, stated that all variants of the F-35 failed to meet the military’s requirements for reliability, maintainability, and availability.
“The operational suitability of the F-35 fleet continues to fall short of Service expectations,” the report noted.
An independent online database tracking F-35 incidents, hosted by F-16.net, has documented 20 crashes or mishaps involving the aircraft between 2014 and 2024.
