US F-35 fighter jet crashes, pilot survives with minor injuries: Here’s what we know so far

In an incident on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, a US Air Force F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet assigned to Nellis Air Force Base crashed in a restricted area north of Las Vegas, Nevada, the military confirmed. The pilot successfully ejected and is being treated for minor injuries, while the crash did not affect nearby populated areas.

F-35 crash location

The F-35 went down approximately 25 miles northeast of Indian Springs, Nevada, within the Nevada Test and Training Range, a controlled military airspace designated for advanced flight operations and weapons systems testing. The location sits well outside civilian communities, and officials said the crash posed no danger to nearby residents.


According to Nellis Air Force Base public affairs cited by Fox News, emergency responders were dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident was reported. The base reaffirmed that populated areas were not impacted by the crash, and that the safety of personnel and the local community remains a priority as part of ongoing response efforts.

Military officials reported that the pilot ejected from the aircraft prior to the jet’s impact with the ground. He was located and safely recovered by emergency services. Early medical reports state the pilot sustained only minor injuries and is currently receiving treatment.

F-35 crash: Cause

At the time of reporting, the US Air Force had not publicly disclosed what caused the aircraft to crash. Investigators from the Air Force and relevant military safety boards are expected to examine the wreckage and flight data recorders to determine contributing factors such as system malfunction, environmental conditions, or human factors.

F-35 Lightning II fighter jet

The F-35 Lightning II is a family of fifth-generation stealth multirole combat aircraft developed under the multinational Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program and manufactured by Lockheed Martin with industry partners.

It is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, conduct electronic warfare, and gather intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data.

The aircraft entered service with the US military in the 2010s, with the first variant flying in 2006. As of early 2026, more than 1,300 F-35s have been built and deployed by the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nations, making it one of the most numerous stealth fighters globally.

Despite its technological sophistication, the aircraft has experienced a series of isolated incidents and accidents in training and testing contexts since entering operational service.