Key takeaways:
- The F-35 crashed around 10 a.m. Pacific time at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and sparked a fire in a field on the base.
- Marine Corps officials described the crash as a “class A mishap,” the most serious category for military and federal aviation incidents.
- The pilot was the only person on board, ejected from the aircraft, was recovered and was being transported to a medical facility.
An F-35 fighter jet crashed Friday morning at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, forcing the pilot to eject and igniting a fire in a field on the base, Marine Corps officials said.
The aircraft, assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, crashed around 10 a.m. Pacific time, according to a spokesperson for the base. The Marine Corps described the crash as a “class A mishap,” the most serious category for military and federal aviation incidents.
The pilot was the only person on board, officials said. A Marine Corps spokesperson said the pilot ejected, was recovered and was being transported to a medical facility. Officials did not immediately say whether the pilot was injured.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.
Images from the scene showed the charred aircraft on the ground in what appeared to be an open field, surrounded by smoke and scorched grass. CBS News reported that aerial footage from affiliate KFMB-TV showed responders working to extinguish the fire, while verified social media videos showed a plume of black smoke rising from the plane as crews sprayed it with fire retardant. Another image showed multiple vehicles and responders at the scene, with the aircraft’s hatch appearing to be open.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is about 10 miles north of San Diego. CBS News reported that the base is home to more than 15,000 Marines, sailors and civilians and serves as headquarters for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The F-35 is flown by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, CBS News reported, and each aircraft costs about $100 million.
Friday’s crash follows several other high-profile military jet crashes involving F-35s and aircraft based near Miramar. In 2023, a Marine Corps pilot died after ejecting from an F/A-18 Hornet near the base, CBS News reported. The jet crashed on government property just before midnight, and the pilot was found dead after an hourslong search by the U.S. Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. He was later identified as Maj. Andrew Mettler.
CBS News also reported that in July 2025, a pilot ejected from an F-35 in California’s Fresno County after a crash that caused a small grass fire. The pilot was safely recovered. In January 2025, an Air Force pilot flying an F-35 during a training mission at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska experienced what officials described as an “in-flight emergency.” Video reviewed by CBS News showed the aircraft spinning toward the ground before exploding on impact. The pilot ejected and parachuted safely.
In 2024, a Marine Corps pilot ejected from an F-35 after a series of technical malfunctions during a heavy rainstorm, CBS News reported. The plane continued flying on its own for more than 11 minutes, covering about 70 miles before crashing and damaging private land. The pilot landed safely in a driveway and called 911. The crash site was found a day later, and an investigation found the pilot had acted improperly by ejecting.
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