F-35B crashes near San Diego Marine base; pilot ejects safely
A US Marine Corps F-35B crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on July 31, 2026, and its pilot ejected before being taken to hospital in stable condition.
In short
- A US Marine Corps F-35B crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on July 31, 2026, and its pilot ejected before being taken to hospital in stable condition.
A US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday, July 31, 2026, after its pilot ejected safely, according to reports citing the base.
The unidentified pilot was taken to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of injuries described as not life-threatening. The crash sparked a small vegetation fire near the site, which firefighters extinguished.
Military officials classified the incident as a Class A mishap, the category used for the most serious accidents, including cases in which an aircraft is destroyed or damage exceeds $2 million. The cause was not immediately known, and investigations into military aviation accidents can take months.
The F-35B is the short-takeoff and vertical-landing version of the F-35 stealth fighter and is operated by the US Marine Corps. The new Al Jazeera report and an earlier Guardian account describe the same July 31 crash and both attribute the key details about the pilot's condition to Marine Corps officials.
