A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter crashed Friday near Miramar air base in California, but the pilot ejected successfully and sustained only non-life-threatening injuries.

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter crashed Friday near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego after the pilot ejected from the aircraft. According to the Marine Corps, the pilot was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. Aerial footage documented a large plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field, with military and firefighting personnel responding to the scene.

Witness Wade Lott, who observed the incident from nearby, described seeing two jets descend toward the runway together. The first aircraft landed safely, but the second began slowing unusually before the pilot ejected approximately 100 feet above the ground. Lott reported that the F-35B struck the runway and surrounding area with significant force. San Diego Fire responded to a vegetation fire that sparked near the crash site, though further details about fire suppression efforts remain limited.

The Marine Corps classified the incident as a "Class A mishap," the most severe category used when damage exceeds $2 million or an aircraft is destroyed. The F-35B model, which costs approximately $109 million per unit, is specifically designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings. According to defense analysis, the F-35 program involves more than 630 aircraft currently deployed across the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, with projections suggesting total program costs could reach approximately $2 trillion.

Historically, F-35 aircraft have demonstrated relatively strong safety records since their adoption in 2015, with fewer crashes reported compared to other fighter jets during their initial deployment phases. The incident marks at least the sixth successful pilot ejection from an F-35 crash, though previous incidents have occasionally resulted in pilot injuries upon landing.