US Navy’s F-35C fighter jet crashes near California base; pilot ejects safely

TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jul 31, 2025, 22:52 IST

( Image credit : IANS )

Highlight of the story: A U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II fighter jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in California during an attempted emergency landing. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft, assigned to the VFA-125 training squadron, and is reported safe. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the incident at the Navy's largest Master Jet Base.

An advanced F-35C Lightning II fighter jet belonging to the United States Navy crashed Wednesday evening near Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore in Kings County, California. The incident occurred around 6:30 PM local time as the aircraft attempted an emergency landing.

The stealth fighter, assigned to the VFA-125 “Rough Raiders” training squadron, went down in an open field near Cadillac and Dickinson Avenue in neighboring Fresno County. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a parachute deploy as the aircraft descended, indicating that the pilot successfully ejected.

Pilot safe, investigation underway

Emergency services, including fire and police teams, rushed to the crash site. The Navy confirmed the pilot was safe and no other personnel were affected.

“NAS Lemoore can confirm an aviation incident on the Operations side of the installation... the pilot successfully ejected and is safe. There are no additional affected personnel,” the Navy said in an official statement. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

NAS Lemoore: Home to Navy’s cutting-edge strike fleet

Commissioned in 1961, NAS Lemoore is the Navy’s largest Master Jet Base and houses more than half of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet. It is also the only air station currently operating the F-35C, the carrier-based variant of America’s most advanced stealth fighter.

The base is home to the Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (CSFWP) and the Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing (CJSFW), overseeing all F-35C squadrons.

About the F-35C Lightning II

Built by Lockheed Martin, the F-35C is one of three main variants of the fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter. Unlike the F-35A (designed for the Air Force) and the F-35B (capable of short take-off and vertical landing), the F-35C is optimized for aircraft carrier operations with larger wings, enhanced durability, and advanced catapult-assisted take-off and arrested landing systems.

Despite its cutting-edge technology, the F-35 program has faced criticism over costs and reliability. Wednesday's crash will likely renew scrutiny around its safety record and operational readiness.