US Fighter Jet Cr¶shes At Air Force Base
Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, stated that the pilot experienced an “inflight malfunction” and had to eject, AFP reports.
An F-35 fighter jet belonging to the United States Air Force crashed during a training mission at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday, with the pilot managing to eject safely.
Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, stated that the pilot experienced an “inflight malfunction” and had to eject, AFP reports.
“The pilot is safe and has been transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further evaluation,” he said.
The incident occurred at 12:49 p.m. local time, causing significant aircraft damage.
Townsend confirmed that the aircraft went down during the landing phase.
“I think it is premature to speculate on the causes of the incident, essentially [the pilot] experienced an inflight malfunction, was safely able to eject, but resulted in the crash of the aircraft,” he added.
Video footage captured at the base showed the Lockheed Martin-built jet spinning in circles with its landing gear extended before crashing, producing a massive fireball.
The pilot’s parachute was visible in the recording.
The F-35A, a cornerstone of the Air Force, replaced the F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.
With an estimated cost of $81 million per unit, the aircraft is known for its stealth capabilities and long-range supersonic speed. There are currently 54 of these jets stationed at Eielson Air Force Base.
Townsend reassured that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
“I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again,” he said.
This crash follows previous incidents involving F-35 jets. In May, an F-35 crashed in New Mexico after a refueling stop, leaving the pilot with serious injuries.
Another incident in October saw a Marine pilot eject unnecessarily, leaving the aircraft to fly autonomously for 11 minutes before crashing in South Carolina.
Eielson Air Force Base, located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks, serves as a hub for over fifty of these fifth-generation fighter jets. The cause of the latest crash remains under investigation.
