An F-35B stealth fighter jet crashed on Friday, August 1, 2026, near the Miramar airbase in San Diego, California. The US Marine Corps confirmed that the pilot ejected safely and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Aerial footage showed a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage located in a dirt field near the base. The Marine Corps issued a statement confirming the pilot's condition and the circumstances of the crash.

According to a 2024 analysis by the Government Accountability Office, the US Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force collectively operate more than 630 F-35 jets. The overall F-35 program is estimated to cost roughly $2 trillion after the military purchases over 1,800 additional jets and operates them for decades.

This incident follows a more serious crash in June 2026, when a B-52 bomber went down shortly after takeoff in California's Mojave Desert, resulting in the deaths of all eight crew members on board.

Sources