F-35 jet crashes in California; pilot ejects safely

An F-35B fighter jet crashed on 31 July, 2025, at NAS Lemoore in central California
Reuters

An F-35 fighter jet went down near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California, the U.S. Navy confirmed on Wednesday.

"The pilot successfully ejected and is safe. There are no additional affected personnel," NAS Lemoore said in a statement.

While the crash prompted an immediate response, no further details were given. The cause is currently under investigation.

The jet, worth about $100 million, is the second F-35 to crash in 2025, following an earlier incident in Alaska involving an F-35A.

The Navy confirmed the aircraft was an F-35C, designed for carrier operations. It's one of three F-35 variants used across U.S. military branches.

Tags