Pilot ejected, recovered, transported to medical facility
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B jet crashed Friday afternoon near Miramar Air Base in San Diego, the Marines said. The pilot ejected and was taken to a medical facility, according to a statement from the service.
The Marines classified the incident as a “Class A mishap,” the most severe accident category used when the damage totals more than $2 million, a military aircraft is destroyed, or a service member dies. The statement did not disclose the pilot’s condition or provide details on the cause of the crash.
Aerial video from a news helicopter showed a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field, with multiple military and firefighting vehicles and personnel at the scene. The ground appeared covered with white flame retardant material, and at least one person was spraying the wreckage with a fire hose.