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F-35B Fighter Jet Crashes Near San Diego Marine Corps Base, Pilot Ejects Safely

Published July 31, 2026 at 8:04 PM UTC

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A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, on July 31, 2026. The pilot ejected before the crash and was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident, classified as a "Class A mishap," involved a single F-35B jet, which costs approximately $109 million. Aerial footage showed black smoke rising from the wreckage in a dirt field, with multiple military and firefighting vehicles on site. Firefighters responded to a vegetation fire sparked by the crash, and fire retardant was seen covering the area. The F-35B variant is known for its short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities and is employed by the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. The crash site is near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, formerly home to the Navy’s "Top Gun" training school before it moved to Nevada in 1996.