An F-35 fighter jet en route to a US Air Force base has crashed near Albuquerque International Airport in New Mexico, seriously injuring its pilot.
The developmental model was on its delivery flight to Edwards Air Force Base in South Carolina when the incident happened.
Multiple responders arrived at the crash site around 2 pm local time, where they found the pilot conscious.
He sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he is reportedly in stable condition.
The Air Force pilot had landed the plane at the Kirtland Air Force Base southeast of Sunport shortly before the accident to refuel.
Lockheed Martin has announced that it will follow an “appropriate investigation protocol” to look into the accident.
F-35 Crashes
The incident has raised safety concerns over Lockheed’s fighter planes, which have experienced a number of crashes in recent years.
Last year, an F-35 “disappeared” in South Carolina after the pilot ejected due to an “aircraft failure.”
Its stealth capabilities and lack of a working transponder made it difficult for authorities to track the plane. Debris from the crash was eventually found after more than 24 hours.
In 2021, a UK F-35B dropped off the launch ramp of a carrier in the Mediterranean Sea, diving straight into the water.
Failure to generate enough thrust for takeoff was reported as the cause of the accident.
