FRESNO, California — A F‑35C Lightning II fighter jet belonging to the United States Navy crashed around 6:30 p.m. (local time) in a field near Naval Air Station Lemoore, located about 37 miles south of Fresno, officials confirmed in an official statement.
The pilot, a member of the VFA‑125 “Rough Raiders” training squadron, successfully ejected and is in good condition, with no other injuries reported, according to the base. NAS Lemoore stated:
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“The pilot successfully ejected and is safe. No others were affected.”
The incident caused a small vegetation fire that burned about a dozen acres, according to a Cal Fire report. Emergency teams responded promptly, containing the flames with no reported casualties.
The jet was part of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA‑125, known as the “Rough Raiders,” responsible for training new Navy pilots to operate the F‑35C, the aircraft carrier variant of the fighter jet. NAS Lemoore is the Navy’s main operating hub for this type of jet on the U.S. West Coast.
The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed, and an official investigation is underway by the relevant authorities.
This is the second F‑35 crash in 2025. On January 28, 2025, another F‑35A from the U.S. Air Force crashed in Alaska; the pilot also ejected safely.
The F‑35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet designed by Lockheed Martin. The F‑35C variant is equipped for aircraft carrier operations, with capabilities for takeoffs and landings on naval decks.
Source and images: NAS Lemoore | Stars and Stripes | Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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