An F-35 fighter jet from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed on Friday morning at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, located in San Diego. This incident led to an emergency response and triggered a brush fire, as stated by a base spokesperson to Fox News.
Emergency responders addressed what the Marine Corps termed as an ‘aircraft mishap’ on the flight line around 10 a.m. local time. The jet involved was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 1st Lt. Blake Starbuck reported. It originated from MCAS Miramar.
The mishap was classified as a ‘Class A’ event involving a Marine Corps F-35B near MCAS Miramar. The pilot successfully ejected and was rescued afterward.
The current status regarding the flight’s purpose, whether the aircraft was arriving or departing, engaged in a training mission, or if there were any casualties remains unclear, according to Starbuck.
The crash ignited a fire in a field just north of State Route 52, visible from the highway. Video footage from SkyRanger 7 depicted the aircraft split into two sections across a football-field-sized burned area. The blaze was noticeable from the freeway, leading to notifications to the California Highway Patrol.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed their assistance with the brushfire but clarified that the military holds jurisdiction over the incident.
No press conference has been announced regarding the crash. Officials mentioned that more details will be shared as they come to light.
The situation remains fluid, and updates will be provided as new information surfaces.
Brittany Miller is noted as a Fox News Digital breaking news writer and a former Independent reporter, graduating from Syracuse University in 2023.