WASHINGTON — A Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed today at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, according to the service.
The aircraft was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Emergency personnel responded to the mishap at approximately 10 a.m. local time. The pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local medical facility, the service said in a statement. The pilot is being treated and evaluated for non-life-threatening injuries, the statement added.
No additional details were immediately available. The average flyaway price for the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B is $109 million.
The F-35 Joint Program Office told Breaking Defense that it was aware of the mishap, and said it would support the Marine Corps’s investigation of the incident.
“We remained committed to ensuring the safety of our warfighters,” a program office spokesperson said in an email to Breaking Defense.
This is a breaking news story and may be updated.