Wire flash
OtherUS Marine Corps F-35B crashes on runway at California base, pilot ejects safely
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
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.
Source report
An F-35B fighter jet was involved in the military's most severe type of aviation mishap near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in Southern California on Friday morning, according to the Marine Corps.
"We can confirm a Class A mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity of [Marine Corps Air Station] Miramar," the Marine Corps said in a statement. "The pilot ejected and has been recovered. More information will be available as the situation develops."
Incident Details
- Time: Approximately 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time
- Location: Flightline of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California
- Aircraft: F-35B, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
- Pilot Status: Stable condition; being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local medical facility
A witness told the Associated Press that the plane crashed while landing at the base. Local media in San Diego reported smoke rising near the air station, with aerial footage purportedly showing the plane on a burnt field just outside the base.
Definition of Class A Mishap
According to the military, a Class A mishap involves either a loss of life or damage to equipment greater than $2.5 million.
Recent Aviation Incidents
The mishap is the latest in a series of stateside aviation incidents in recent months:
- May: Two Navy EA-18G Growlers collided during an airshow in Idaho; all four crew members safely ejected.
- June: A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet from Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state.
- June 15: An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing all eight people on board.
This is a developing story.
Update (7/31/2026): This article was updated with a new statement from the Marine Corps, which identified the unit the aircraft is assigned to.
Source
Task & PurposeWestern
Part of this Story
Marine Corps F-35B Crashes at Miramar Base, Pilot Safe