A US Marine Corps pilot survived after ejecting from an F-35B fighter jet moments before it crashed near a military base in California on Friday, officials said.
The aircraft went down near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.
The Marine Corps said the pilot was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and an investigation is underway.
Video from the scene showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage as firefighters and military personnel worked to put out the fire.
Emergency crews covered parts of the crash site with fire retardant while continuing rescue and recovery operations.
A local resident, Wade Lott, said he was driving to work when he saw two fighter jets approaching the runway.
ne landed safely, but the second slowed sharply while still in the air.
He said the pilot ejected just seconds before the aircraft crashed and exploded after hitting the ground.
The crash also sparked a small vegetation fire near the site. Firefighters responded quickly and brought the blaze under control.
The Marine Corps described the incident as a Class A mishap, the military`s highest accident category.
The classification is used when an aircraft is destroyed, damage exceeds $2 million, or a service member is killed.
The F-35B is the version of the stealth fighter designed for short take-offs and vertical landings.
It is mainly used by the US Marine Corps and costs about $109 million per aircraft.
According to a 2024 report by the US Government Accountability Office, the US Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force operate more than 630 F-35 aircraft.
The programme is expected to cost about $2 trillion over its lifetime, including future purchases and operating costs.
Despite its advanced technology, the F-35 has been involved in a small number of crashes since entering service in 2015.
In several previous accidents, pilots were able to eject safely.
Friday`s crash was one of several military aircraft accidents reported in the United States this year.
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