A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in California on Wednesday evening, the latest in a series of incidents involving the multi-role stealth aircraft. The pilot ejected safely, and the cause of the crash is under investigation. This comes just days after a British F-35B fighter jet, stranded for over a month in India, was finally flown out after extensive repair efforts.
US Navy F-35 crashes during training mission in California
According to a Navy press statement, the F-35 crashed at approximately 6:30 pm near NAS Lemoore in central California. The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the “Rough Raiders,” which is responsible for training F-35 pilots. The pilot safely ejected and survived the incident.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash. No injuries were reported on the ground, and no property damage was confirmed.
British F-35B finally departs India after a month on the ground
Earlier this month, a British Royal Navy F-35B made headlines after it remained grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala for over four weeks. The aircraft had made an unscheduled landing on June 14 due to poor weather and low fuel while returning from joint exercises.
Following the landing, engineers discovered a fault that made the fifth-generation fighter unserviceable. The incident triggered concerns about sensitive technology being present in a non-partner country, as India is not part of the F-35 program.
After multiple repair attempts and logistical coordination, the aircraft departed India and rejoined the HMS Prince of Wales strike group via Darwin, Australia. India’s airport operator charged about Rs 26,261 per day for parking the jet. Over roughly 35 days, the total estimated parking bill reached Rs 9.2 lakh.
List of operational incidents fuels criticism
The F-35 program, led by Lockheed Martin, is recently facing scrutiny for its high costs and technical challenges. The recent incidents in the US and India are not isolated cases.
In early 2025, an F-35A crashed in Alaska. In previous years, F-35s have crashed in South Carolina, Japan, and during aircraft carrier operations.
