A US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed near a Marine base in San Diego on Friday morning, sparking a small fire that was extinguished by first responders. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
The pilot, who has not been publicly identified, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. In a statement from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, it was said: "The pilot ejected, was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries."
The cause of the crash is unclear, but officials characterized it as a "Class A mishap," the most severe category used when damage exceeds $2 million, an aircraft is destroyed, or a service member is killed.
A single F-35B fighter jet costs about $109 million.
Candace Hadley, a spokesperson for San Diego Fire, said firefighters were on scene to respond to a vegetation fire that sparked near the crash site. She referred additional questions to Miramar.
The F-35B is one of several versions of the advanced stealth fighter jet flown by the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. The "B" version has an engine designed for short takeoffs and is capable of vertical landings.
Last month, a Marine fighter jet crashed in Washington. Federal authorities described it as a "non-fatal aviation mishap," according to the Yakima Herald-Republic. Mishap investigations reportedly can take several months.