Photo: MANDEL NGAN / AFP / Getty Images
Emergency crews are responding to a crash involving an F-35 fighter jet at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. The incident, described as an "aircraft mishap," occurred as the aircraft was returning from a mission in the Middle East. The jet was part of a group of six aircraft, with the remaining five safely diverting to RAF Lossiemouth.
Footage from the scene shows crews using water cannons to douse the wreckage, which is located in an open field approximately six miles northwest of the airfield. The cause of the crash is currently unknown, and the status of the pilot remains unconfirmed.
The crash is under investigation, and officials have not released further details to maintain the integrity of the investigation. For more information, the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Public Affairs Office can be contacted at (858) 864-3184 or through their Twitter feed.
This incident follows a recent crash involving an F/A-18 Hornet from the same base, which occurred near Rimrock Lake in Washington state. In that case, the pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries, and the crash sparked a wildfire in the area. The cause of that crash is also under investigation.