A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, on Wednesday evening. The pilot ejected safely and was airlifted to the hospital; their condition has not been disclosed.
The aircraft belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125 (“Rough Raiders”), a unit tasked with training F-35 pilots and crews. The crash occurred around 18:30 local time, and an investigation is underway.
Footage from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the crash site. Lockheed Martin, the jet’s manufacturer, acknowledged the incident, stating it was in contact with the Navy.
The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, capable of air superiority, strike, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance missions. The specific variant involved in the crash was not disclosed.
?#BREAKING: emergency officials are on the scene after a United States military f-35 jet has crash and burst into flames
At this time military officials and emergency crews are currently on scene at Lemoore Naval Air Station in Fresno County,… pic.twitter.com/XCRg0BUv2y
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 31, 2025