US military says F-35B jet fighter crashes in California, pilot safe

The jet went down near the Miramar airbase in San Diego and aerial video showed a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field.Published On 1 Aug 20261 Aug 2026An F-35B stealth fighter plane has crashed in California, but its pilot ejected and is expected to survive, the US Marine Corps said.The jet went down on Friday near the Miramar airbase in San Diego. “The pilot ejected, was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries,” the Marine Corps said in a statement.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US Senate’s Fauci hearing renews COVID origin debate but reveals littlelist 2 of 3US proposes cuts to Colorado River use for Arizona, California and Nevadalist 3 of 3Trump administration to dismiss Reflecting Pool charges against David Hearnend of listAerial video from a news helicopter showed a plume of black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field, with multiple military and firefighting vehicles and people standing nearby. What appeared to be white flame retardant covered the ground, and at least one person was spraying the wreckage with a fire hose.Candace Hadley, a spokespe...