An F-35 fighter jet crashed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore in central California on Wednesday, the US Navy confirmed.

According to an official statement from the airbase, the pilot of the aircraft ejected successfully and did not suffer any injuries. “The pilot successfully ejected and is safe. There are no additional-affected personnel,” NAS Lemoore said.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:30 pm local time. “An F-35C attached to the VFA-125 ‘Rough Raiders’ went down not far from NAS Lemoore,” the statement added.

Visuals from the scene showed a plume of smoke rising near the crash site. The Navy has not yet disclosed the extent of the damage or any impact on base operations.

Naval Air Station Lemoore is located around 64 kilometres southwest of the city of Fresno in central California, as reported by CNN. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The stealth fighter is one of the world’s most advanced and costs around $115 million.

The F35 is a fifth-generation stealth multirole combat aircraft developed by the US defense giant Lockheed Martin. It is designed for a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and electronic warfare. The aircraft features advanced stealth technology, sophisticated sensors, and state-of-the-art avionics.

Recently, the F35 made headlines in India when a British Royal Navy F35B variant was forced to make an emergency landing in Kerala due to bad weather and low fuel. The jet remained grounded for over a month at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, exposed to monsoon rains, before being repaired by a British technical team.

A dramatic incident unfolded in Califo ia as a U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter jet crashed in a field near Naval Air Station Lemoore on Wednesday evening, July 30. The crash occurred around 6:40 PM local time near Cadillac and Dickinson Avenue in Fresno County. According to KMPH News, the aircraft attempted an emergency landing before plunging and erupting into flames.

Eyewitnesses reported a parachute opening mid-air, suggesting the pilot ejected and survived. Emergency response teams, including police and fire units, quickly reached the site to control the fiery wreckage. Naval Air Station Lemoore, commissioned in 1961, is the U.S. Navy’s largest Master Jet Base and the only one housing the F-35C Lightning II. The crash marks a significant incident involving one of America’s most advanced and expensive fighter aircraft.