Authorities at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego are investigating the possible crash of a F-35B assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 11. Imagery taken by a local television news helicopter shows a scorched airplane surrounded by blackened ground.
The pilot was able to eject.
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Base officials have referred to the event as an “aircraft mishap.” It took place around 10 a.m. PDT and sent a large dark column of smoke into the air.
The F-35B is a single-crew fighter and the most technically advanced aircraft in the U.S. military arsenal.