F-35B Crashes Near Miramar Base In California, Pilot Stable After Ejecting
A Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Friday, July 31, 2026.[1]
The pilot ejected and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.[1]
The jet crashed into a dirt field off the runway and sparked a nearby vegetation fire that San Diego Fire crews responded to.[1] Eyewitness Wade Lott said he saw two jets on approach.[1] He said the second jet seemed to slow and attempt to hover about 100 feet above the ground before the pilot ejected and the plane "plowed into the runway and just blew up" next to another aircraft.[1]
The Marine Corps classified the incident as a "Class A mishap," a designation that covers damage above $2 million, the destruction of an aircraft, or a service member death.[1] U.S. services now operate more than 630 F-35s.[1] PBS noted at least 17 Air Force Class A mishaps involving F-35s since 2000 and at least seven other U.S. military aircraft mishaps so far in 2026.[1]
Initial reports of a crash at Miramar appeared earlier in the day.[2] The Marine Corps later updated its statement to identify the jet as an F-35B and to provide the pilot's condition and the Class A designation.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, July 31, 2026, the Marine Corps said in an updated statement that the jet that crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was an F-35B stealth fighter.
- The Marine Corps reported the pilot ejected and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
- The crash occurred in a dirt field near the Miramar air base in San Diego, and a vegetation fire broke out nearby that San Diego Fire crews responded to.
- Eyewitness Wade Lott described seeing two jets on approach; he said the second F-35B appeared to slow and attempt to hover about 100 feet above the ground before the pilot ejected and the jet "plowed into the runway and just blew up" next to another plane.
- The Marine Corps classified the incident as a 'Class A mishap', a designation covering damage over $2 million, destruction of an aircraft, or a service member death; the destroyed F-35B has an estimated unit cost of about $109 million.
- The report notes U.S. services collectively operate more than 630 F-35s, and that there have been at least 17 other Air Force 'Class A mishaps' involving F-35s since 2000, plus at least seven other U.S. military aircraft mishaps so far in 2026.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The Marine Corps said in an updated statement that the F-35 involved in the July 31, 2026 crash near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was an F-35B stealth fighter.
- The Corps reported the pilot ejected and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
- The crash occurred in a dirt field near the Miramar air base in San Diego, and a vegetation fire broke out nearby that San Diego Fire crews responded to.
- Eyewitness Wade Lott described seeing two jets on approach; the second F-35B appeared to slow and attempt to hover about 100 feet above the ground before the pilot ejected and the jet "plowed into the runway and just blew up" next to another plane.
- The Marine Corps classified the incident as a 'Class A mishap,' indicating damage over $2 million, destruction of an aircraft, or a service member death; the destroyed F-35B has an estimated unit cost of about $109 million.
- Background context in the article notes that the U.S. services collectively operate more than 630 F-35s and that there have been at least 17 other Air Force 'Class A mishaps' involving F-35s since 2000, plus at least seven other U.S. military aircraft mishaps so far in 2026.