F-35 fighter jet crashes near California Naval base, pilot ejects safely

A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in California on Wednesday evening, the Navy said in a statement.

The crash occurred around 6:30 pm local time, with the pilot successfully ejecting from the aircraft. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

The jet belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, also known as the “Rough Raiders,” a Fleet Replacement Squadron tasked with training Navy pilots and aircrew.

Naval Air Station Lemoore, the Navy’s premier West Coast air base for carrier-based strike fighters, is located about 40 miles southwest of Fresno in central California.