US Navy F-35C Fighter Jet Crashes in California

An F-35C, assigned to the “Rough Raiders” of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-125, lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on May 5, 2023.

A US Navy F-35C fighter jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California on Wednesday evening, around 6:30 pm. The pilot safely ejected and received assistance from emergency crews at the scene. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, also known as the “Rough Raiders,” a unit responsible for training pilots and aircrew. The crash occurred in open farmland about 64 kilometers southwest of Fresno.

The F-35C is a carrier-based variant of the F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation stealth fighter designed for advanced combat operations. This variant is used by the US Navy, while other versions are operated by the US Air Force and Marine Corps.

The jet, with an estimated cost of $100 million, was the second F-35 to crash this year. In January, an Air Force F-35A went down in Alaska during a training mission. The pilot in that incident also ejected safely.

Emergency responders, including local EMS teams and Cal Fire, arrived quickly at the California crash site. Video footage showed flames and thick black smoke rising from the scene.

The F-35 program, involving over 17 countries, has faced ongoing scrutiny over its maintenance and operational readiness, despite being regarded as one of the most advanced aircraft in the world.