A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet crashed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego on Friday morning, forcing the pilot to eject before impact.<\/p>\n
The aircraft, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, went down at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time on the flightline at Miramar, according to the Marine Corps.<\/p>\n
Emergency responders rushed to the scene after the crash, with aerial footage showing firefighters spraying fire retardant on the burning wreckage while thick black smoke rose above the base. No injuries have been reported on the ground.<\/p>\n
The pilot was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the Marine Corps said. Officials have not disclosed what caused the crash.<\/p>\n
Official details emerge<\/p>\n
The Marine Corps classified the incident as a \u201cClass A mishap,\u201d the military\u2019s highest accident category, which includes the destruction of an aircraft, a fatality, permanent disability or damage exceeding $2 million.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the service said: \u201cEmergency personnel responded this morning to an aircraft mishap on the flightline of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time today, involving an F-35B assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emergency personnel responded to an F-35B aircraft mishap on MCAS Miramar at 10:00 am PST. The pilot ejected, was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.<\/p>\n
\u2014 U.S. Marines (@USMC) July 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, located about 10 miles north of downtown San Diego, serves as the headquarters of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and is home to more than 15,000 Marines, sailors and civilian personnel.<\/p>\n The Marine Corps added: \u201cMore information will be released when available.\u201d<\/p>\n Recent crashes continue<\/p>\n The F-35B is the Marine Corps\u2019 short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II, allowing it to operate from short runways and amphibious assault ships. Together with the Air Force\u2019s F-35A and the Navy\u2019s carrier-based F-35C, it forms the backbone of the U.S. military\u2019s stealth fighter fleet.<\/a><\/p>\n The F-35 remains central to the U.S. military\u2019s long-term air power strategy despite recent accidents and readiness concerns. While the Pentagon\u2019s <\/a>fiscal 2026 budget reduces planned F-35 procurement to 47 aircraft from 74 the previous year, the jet continues to anchor the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps\u2019 tactical aviation fleets. The funding shift is intended to prioritize Block 4 modernization, spare parts and sustainment while maintaining minimum production rates for the stealth fighter.<\/p>\n