Doha: The US military announced Wednesday that an F-35 fighter jet crashed during a military training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, and its pilot survived after he managed to parachute moments before the plane crashed. A statement issued by the air base said that the pilot declared an emergency while trying to land, which forced him to use the emergency ejection system, stressing that the pilot is in stable condition and is undergoing medical evaluation at Bassett Military Hospital.
According to Qatar News Agency, local sources said that thick smoke columns were seen rising from the accident site, while fire and emergency teams rushed to the scene to control the fire and secure the area. Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, confirmed that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the technical failure that led to the crash, pointing to the importance of reviewing safety procedures to prevent similar accidents.
Eielson Air Force Base is one of the primary sites for hosting the F-35, with 54 of the aircraft under a $500 million development program that began in 2016. The F-35 is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, but this incident is the latest in a string of similar incidents involving the aircraft in recent years, including one in New Mexico in 2024 that left a pilot seriously injured.