US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashes in California

A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed Wednesday near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California, according to a Navy statement.

The pilot ejected safely, and the cause of the crash, which occurred around 6:30 p.m., is under investigation.

Video footage from CNN affiliate KFSN showed fire and thick black smoke rising from the crash site in open farmland about 40 miles southwest of Fresno.

Emergency crews, including local EMS and Cal Fire, responded to the scene, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said.

The aircraft, an F-35C assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125 — known as the “Rough Raiders” — was part of the Navy’s training squadron for pilots and aircrew.

The F-35C is designed for aircraft carrier operations. It is one of three F-35 variants, with the Air Force flying the F-35A and the Marine Corps operating the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B.

This marks the second F-35 crash this year. An Air Force F-35A crashed in Alaska in January during a training mission; that pilot also ejected safely.

Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter and a key asset of the US military, operated by over 17 countries worldwide. Despite its advanced capabilities, the jet has faced increased scrutiny in recent years due to maintenance and readiness concerns.