F-35B Fighter Jet Worth $109 Million Crashes in Southern California

An F-35B fighter jet of the US Marine Corps crashed today near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in Southern California. The pilot ejected and was taken for medical treatment; his condition is unknown. The incident was classified as a Class A mishap, the most severe category. The aircraft, valued at about $109 million, caused a vegetation fire.

An F-35B fighter jet of the US Marine Corps crashed today (Friday) near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in Southern California. The pilot ejected before the crash and was taken for medical treatment, but his condition was not reported. The incident was classified by the Marines as a "Class A mishap," the most severe category, used when damage exceeds two million dollars or when an aircraft is destroyed. The jet crashed in the afternoon in an open area, causing a vegetation fire that firefighting crews were called to extinguish. Footage from a news helicopter showed a column of black smoke rising from the wreckage. The F-35B is a variant of the advanced stealth fighter, equipped with an engine that enables short takeoff and vertical landing, and costs about $109 million.