Los Angeles, Aug 1 (IANS) US Marine officials have confirmed that emergency personnel were responding to an F-35B fighter jet crash near Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San Diego, California, according to local media reports.
The incident occurred at around 10 a.m. local time on Friday. The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered, authorities said.
“We can confirm a mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity of MCAS Miramar,” a base spokesperson said in a statement. “The pilot ejected, was recovered, and is enroute to a medical facility.”
The jet was assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 11, according to media reports.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, reports Xinhua news agency.
The F-35B is the US Marine Corps’ short takeoff and vertical landing fighter jet.
MCAS Miramar is a major US military air base, where about 15,000 service members from all branches of the US military are based, CNN reported.
Earlier in June, a US military fighter jet crashed in Washington state and sparked a wildfire, while the pilot ejected before the crash and suffered minor injuries. The aircraft crashed near Rimrock Lake, prompting an emergency firefighting response in the forested area.
The F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, was conducting routine training when it went down, NBC News reported, citing authorities.
The fighter jet was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California.
Similarly, in May, a US Air Force training jet crashed in Fayette County, western Alabama, with both pilots ejecting safely.
Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi confirmed there had been a “mishap” involving a T-38 Talon II aircraft connected to the base.
“Two pilots ejected safely from the aircraft,” according to a press release from the base.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Lamar County Sheriff’s Department said emergency crews were at the scene of the crash.
The cause is currently unknown, said military officials. An investigation will be opened by the Air Force Safety Investigation Board.
–IANS
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