An F-35 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, but the pilot ejected safely, base officials confirmed.
According to US Air Force Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, the pilot experienced an "in-flight malfunction" and was able to eject before the crash. The incident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to land during the exercise.
The Eielson Air Force Base statement indicated the crash caused significant damage to the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The pilot was safely recovered and taken to Bassett Army Hospital.
Colonel Townsend assured that the US Air Force would conduct a thorough investigation to understand the cause and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents.
The F-35 program is the most expensive US defense project and is a significant revenue source for Lockheed Martin, accounting for about 30% of its profits. Despite this, Lockheed had earlier warned that 2025 profits would be lower than expected due to delays in F-35 upgrades. The Pentagon is planning to spend $1.7 trillion on the F-35 program, which includes purchasing 2,500 aircraft in the coming decades.
