US Marines say F-35 crashed in California; pilot expected to live after ejecting

A US Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter crashed near Miramar Air Base in San Diego on Friday. The pilot ejected and was taken to a local medical facility in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The crash was classified as a 'Class A mishap.'

A US Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter crashed near Miramar Air Base in San Diego, California, on Friday. The pilot ejected and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition, with non-life-threatening injuries. The Marine Corps confirmed the pilot's survival in an updated statement. Aerial video showed black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field, with firefighting vehicles and personnel on scene. Witness Wade Lott described the jet slowing down as if trying to hover, then the pilot ejecting about 100 feet above the ground. The crash was classified as a 'Class A mishap,' the most severe category. The F-35B is one of several versions, costing about $109 million each. The article notes that F-35s are considered the safest and most capable fighter jets in the military's fleet, with fewer crashes since adoption in 2015 compared to other fighters when new.