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US F-35B Fighter Jet worth over $109 million crashes in California, pilot survives

Published : Saturday, 1 August, 2026 at 5:27 PM

Observer Online Report

A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet, valued at approximately $109 million (around Tk 13 billion), crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California on Friday. The pilot ejected safely before the aircraft went down and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, on Friday (July 31), according to US military officials.

The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft moments before the crash and survived. He was taken to a local hospital in stable condition with injuries that doctors described as non-life-threatening.

In a statement, the US Marine Corps confirmed that the pilot is receiving medical treatment and said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident.

Television footage captured from a news helicopter showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage as military personnel, firefighters and emergency responders worked at the crash site.

Firefighters sprayed fire-suppressant chemicals around the debris before using hoses to extinguish the flames completely.

A witness said he saw two fighter jets approaching for landing. While the first aircraft landed safely, the second appeared to slow dramatically and hover at a low altitude before the pilot ejected at roughly 100 feet above the ground. The parachute deployed immediately, and the aircraft crashed moments later, bursting into flames.

Candace Hadley, spokesperson for the San Diego Fire Department, said the crash sparked a brush fire in nearby grass and shrubs. Fire crews quickly brought the blaze under control.

The crashed aircraft was an F-35B Lightning II, one of the world's most advanced stealth fighter jets. The F-35B variant is designed for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations.

According to US government estimates, each F-35B costs about $109 million, equivalent to more than Tk 13 billion.

The United States currently operates more than 630 F-35 aircraft across the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy. Government analyses estimate that the total lifetime cost of the F-35 programme including the procurement of more than 1,800 additional aircraft and long-term sustainment could reach $2 trillion.

Source: AP, UNB.

-HIS

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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