SAN DIEGO — A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet crashed Friday morning near Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San Diego, triggering a major emergency response and sparking a brush fire near the base.
The military confirmed that the pilot ejected safely prior to impact, was recovered by emergency crews, and was transported to a medical facility for evaluation.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time on the grounds near the air station’s flight line. Marine Corps officials officially designated the crash as a Class A mishap—the U.S. military’s highest category of aviation accident, applied when an incident results in total aircraft loss, severe injury, or property damage exceeding $2.5 million.
Emergency Response and Fire Suppression
Aerial footage from news helicopters showed a plume of thick black smoke rising above a field north of State Route 52. The crash left a charred impact zone roughly the size of a football field, with the jet visible in pieces.
Military firefighters and units from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department responded to control a vegetation fire ignited by the wreckage. Crews deployed fire retardant foam and water lines to extinguish remaining hotspots.
Official Marine Corps Statement:
“We can confirm a Class A mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity of MCAS Miramar. The pilot ejected and has been recovered. More information will be made available as the situation develops.”
Key Incident Details
| Detail | Status / Description |
| Aircraft Type | F-35B Lightning II (Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing variant) |
| Assigned Unit | Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Location | MCAS Miramar perimeter, San Diego, California |
| Pilot Status | Ejected safely, recovered, and transferred to a medical facility |
| Ground Casualties | None reported |
| Cause | Under investigation |
Investigation Underway
The aircraft was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is headquartered at Miramar. Officials have not yet disclosed whether the jet was taking off, landing, or conducting routine training maneuvers at the time of the crash.
A formal military board of inquiry will investigate the cause of the system malfunction or flight anomaly. Further updates regarding the pilot’s condition and initial investigative findings are expected as military authorities release additional details.
