An F-35 fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego this morning, prompting emergency responses from local authorities and multiple rescue teams. The incident, described by the U.S. military as a “class A mishap”—the most severe category for aircraft accidents—occurred after the pilot ejected safely and was recovered, though details about the cause remain unclear.
Aerial imagery captured the burning aircraft on an open field at the base, with responders deploying fire retardant to control a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage. The Marine Corps confirmed the pilot is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and is currently en route to a medical facility for evaluation.
This crash follows two recent F-35 incidents: an Air Force F-35A mishap in Nevada earlier this year and another near Naval Air Station Lemoore in July 2025. The F-35, the world’s most advanced combat aircraft with three variants tailored to different services, has faced persistent operational challenges despite its strategic importance.
The program’s costs have drawn significant scrutiny, including public comments from former President Donald Trump who labeled it “out of control” before his first term. Pentagon spending projections for nearly 2,500 F-35s now exceed $1.7 trillion according to a 2023 Government Accountability Office report, highlighting ongoing maintenance and logistical issues within the U.S. military’s most expensive weapons system.
