Overview
- The F-35B assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 went down near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at about 10 a.m. on Friday after the pilot ejected and was recovered.
- The pilot was taken to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
- The Marine Corps has designated the incident a Class A mishap, meaning the aircraft was destroyed or damage exceeded reporting thresholds.
- The crash left the jet in two large sections in a charred area roughly the size of a football field and ignited a brush fire that San Diego Fire-Rescue helped extinguish while the military secured the scene.
- Military investigators have opened a formal board of inquiry to examine flight data, maintenance records, and eyewitness accounts and to report findings that could affect fleet operations and safety practices.