Marine Corps F-35B Crashes at Miramar Base, Pilot Safe
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighter jet crashed near the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, on July 31, 2026, at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time. The pilot ejected safely and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The aircraft broke into two pieces and caught fire, with emergency crews responding. The incident, classified as a Class A mishap, is under investigation. It adds to a series of recent U.S. military aviation incidents.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page itself is projected from evidence records.
- Source updates only; analysis pending
Analysis pending
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
More Than a Dozen F-35 Lightning II Crashes Recorded, Latest at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
On August 1, 2026, a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II crashed during a training flight at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. The pilot ejected safely and was hospitalized in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident was classified as a Class A mishap, indicating severe damage or destruction. This marks the latest in over a dozen major hull-loss crashes involving the F-35 since its first crash in 2018. Despite the high-profile incidents, the article notes that the F-35 has a relatively lower mishap rate compared to other warplanes. The F-35B variant, costing approximately $109 million, is a short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft used by the USMC and partner nations. The crash occurred just four months after a U.S. Air Force F-35A crashed in Nevada, and days after another F-35 made an emergency landing in the Middle East after ground fire.
F-35B Crashes and Burns at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
An F-35B Lightning II jet crashed near the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, north of San Diego, at approximately 10:00 AM local time. The aircraft, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, broke into two major pieces and caught fire. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency personnel responded immediately. Air traffic control audio indicates the jet went down short of the runway while attempting to land. The base is a master tactical jet base for the Marine Corps, also hosting helicopters and KC-130J tankers. The incident is under investigation, and further details are expected to be released.
F-35B Crashes and Burns at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
An F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter crashed near the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, north of San Diego, at approximately 10:00 AM local time. The aircraft broke into two major pieces and caught fire. The pilot ejected and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The aircraft was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing. Air traffic control audio indicates the jet went down short of the runway while landing. Emergency personnel responded immediately, and the Marine Corps issued an official statement confirming the mishap. The cause of the crash is under investigation, and further details are pending.
Show 4 older updatesHide older updates
F-35B Crashes and Burns at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
An F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter crashed near the end of the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, north of San Diego, at approximately 10:00 AM local time on July 31, 2026. Helicopter footage from Fox 5 showed the aircraft broken into two major pieces and engulfed in flames. Emergency crews responded to heavy smoke at the scene. The status of the pilot remains unclear at this time. The cause of the crash is under investigation. MCAS Miramar is a master tactical jet base for the Marine Corps and also hosts USMC helicopters and KC-130J tankers. The War Zone has reached out to the base for further information.
U.S. Marine Corps F-35 Fighter Jet Crashes Near San Diego
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35 stealth fighter jet crashed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, on Friday. Emergency crews are responding to the scene, and Marine officials have described the incident as an F-35 'aircraft mishap.' The cause of the crash remains unclear. The base, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, is a major Marine Corps installation. No further details on pilot status or casualties have been released at this time.
Marine Corps F-35B crashes on runway at California base, pilot safe
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighter jet was involved in a Class A mishap near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in Southern California on Friday morning. The incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. Pacific Time when the aircraft, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, experienced an unspecified mishap on the flightline. The pilot ejected and was recovered, and is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. A witness reported the plane crashed while landing. Local media showed smoke rising near the base and aerial footage of the plane on a burnt field. The mishap is the latest in a series of stateside military aviation incidents in recent months, including collisions and crashes involving Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force aircraft.
Marine Corps F-35B crashes on runway at California base, pilot safe
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet was involved in a Class A mishap near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in Southern California on Friday morning. The pilot ejected and was recovered, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, and is in stable condition at a local medical facility. The incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. Pacific Time on the flightline of the base, with a witness reporting the plane crashed while landing. The aircraft was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. A Class A mishap involves either loss of life or equipment damage exceeding $2.5 million. Local media reported smoke rising near the base, and aerial footage showed the plane on a burnt field. This is the latest in a series of stateside military aviation incidents in recent months, including collisions and crashes involving Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force aircraft.