An F-35 fighter jet burst into flames after crashing at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, but the pilot escaped unharmed. Footage released shows the moment the plane loses control and crashes into the ground, bursting into flames, as the pilot parachutes down.
It is not yet clear what caused the pilot to abandon the plane, but military authorities have described the incident as a “significant injury” event. He was taken to Bassett Army Hospital for medical evaluation.
Colonel Paul Townsend stressed that the safety of personnel remains a priority and that the US Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation to avoid similar incidents in the future. He also stressed that the pilot was performing “standard procedures” at the time of the incident.
The F-35A, the Air Force's newest fighter jet, has replaced the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II. The average cost of this aircraft is about $81 million, and 54 of them are currently stationed at Eielson Air Force Base.
The latest incident follows a similar incident in September 2023, when an F-35 crashed in South Carolina and the pilot abandoned the plane without stopping. The incident caused a huge public outcry after the plane was declared missing for 24 hours. A military investigation concluded that the pilot had unnecessarily exited the plane, leaving it flying unattended for 11 minutes before it crashed.
The US Air Force continues investigations into the causes of the incidents and strives to increase the safety of fighter aircraft in operations. (A2 Televizion)
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