US Navy's F-35 fighter jet crashes in California

A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed in California on Thursday near Naval Air Station Lemoore, according to a Navy press statement.

The pilot ejected safely, and the cause of the crash, which occurred around 6:30 pm, is under investigation, the statement said.

The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the “Rough Raiders,” the Navy said. VF-125 is a Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training pilots and aircrew.


Naval Air Station Lemoore is located around 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of the city of Fresno in central California.