US military’s $135 million F-35 jet crashes in New Mexico, pilot hospitalized

News, US May 30, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

A U.S. military’s F-35B Lightning II fighter jet crashed near the Albuquerque International Support airfield in New Mexico on May 29, 2024, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot.

The pilot, the sole person on board the fighter jet, ejected shortly before the crash and was conscious after the incident. He was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital with serious injuries, according to airport officials and Albuquerque Fire Rescue. The pilot was reported to be in a stable condition, according to a press release from Kirtland Air Force Base.

The downed aircraft was a brand new unit commissioned to the U.S. Military Marine Corps. The press release clarified that the jet was being flown by a “defense contract management agency pilot at the time of the crash.” The pilot was flying the jet to Lockheed Martin’s maintenance facility at Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base in California to be handed over for scheduled service.

“The pilot safely ejected,” Lockheed Martin, the U.S. defense giant and the maker of the jet said in a statement. “Safety is our priority, and we will follow appropriate investigation protocol.”

In a video posted to social media shortly after the crash, Albuquerque Fire Rescue Lt. Jason Fejer, the department’s public information officer, stated that they began receiving reports of a possible aircraft down just before 2 p.m. local time. The first rescue team responded shortly after.

*^{U.S. F-35 Lightning II fighter jet crashed near Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), New Mexico, on May 28, 2024. (Image Credit: KOB4 feed)}*

The F-35B Lightning II, according to its fact sheet, is valued at $135 million. The aircraft is a state-of-the-art stealth fighter designed for a variety of combat missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance. Its advanced capabilities and high cost make incidents like this particularly significant.

The last F-35 crash before this incident occurred in September last year when a pilot ejected during a training exercise over South Carolina. Remarkably, the stealth fighter continued flying autonomously for approximately 80 miles without any contact before crashing.

The pilot ejected the cockpit after reporting a technical malfunction and the aircraft continued flying in what some called a “zombie state.” The stealth abilities of the fighter jet appeared to be working too well, as it took authorities hours to locate a debris field.

The crash site was eventually found far away from Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina, where the jet had taken off. This event highlighted the complexities and potential hazards associated with the F-35’s advanced technology and autonomous capabilities.