SAN DIEGO — A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft crashed while approaching the runway at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar on Friday morning, July 31, after the pilot ejected safely before impact. The pilot sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is recovering in stable condition, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.
The crash occurred at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time near the runway, just south of Miramar Road near Mitscher Way. According to base air traffic control audio, the aircraft was on a short final approach to the runway when the incident occurred.
An eyewitness near the base reported seeing two military aircraft descending toward the runway. The first aircraft landed normally, while the second appeared to slow significantly, almost hovering, before the pilot ejected at an altitude of about 100 feet. The aircraft then crashed into a dirt field, breaking into two large sections across a scorched area roughly the size of a football field.
The F-35B was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11), which operates under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered at MCAS Miramar. Officials confirmed the pilot was the aircraft's sole occupant, and no other injuries were reported.
Emergency response teams from MCAS Miramar and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department arrived at the scene shortly after the crash. The impact ignited a vegetation fire that spread across several acres. Firefighters used firefighting foam and white flame retardant to suppress the flames and successfully extinguished the brush fire by early afternoon.
In a statement, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing confirmed that the pilot's parachute deployed successfully. The pilot was recovered at the crash site and transported to a local medical facility for evaluation and treatment. Military officials have not released the pilot's identity.
The Marine Corps has classified the accident as a Class A mishap, the military's highest aviation accident category. The classification is used when an aircraft is destroyed, a fatality occurs, or property damage exceeds $2 million. In this incident, officials confirmed the aircraft was destroyed.
Military personnel secured the crash site, and an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident. Officials have not released details about the flight or the circumstances that led to the crash.
"Our primary focus remains on supporting emergency teams at the scene, ensuring thorough site security, and conducting an exhaustive review into the circumstances surrounding this aircraft mishap," a base public affairs officer said.
The F-35B Lightning II is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35 fighter aircraft. The Marine Corps operates the aircraft from amphibious assault ships, expeditionary sites, and conventional airfields. Marine Aircraft Group 11, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at MCAS Miramar in Southern California, provides combat-ready aviation forces and supports the training of Marine and Navy pilots.
A single F-35B aircraft costs more than $100 million to produce. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, and the Marine Corps said additional information will be released as it becomes available.
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