F‑35A fighter jet crashes at Alaska base, pilot safe
An F-35A fighter jet belonging to the U.S. Air Force crashed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The pilot managed to eject, and a recording of the incident has been shared online. In a conversation with WP Tech, Lt. Col. Łukasz Treder from the Polish Armed Forces’ F-35 implementation team discussed the event.
Representatives from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska confirmed that the incident occurred at 4:49 PM Eastern Time near the base's fence. They also reported that the pilot is safe and was transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further health evaluation.
Accident of the American F-35A
"Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed in ensuring their safety and security," said Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing. "I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again," he added.
The event was recorded, and in the footage shared on social media, one can see the moment the F-35A descends and hits the airfield, as well as the pilot ejecting from the aircraft.
F-35A of the U.S. Air Force
The Air & Space Forces Magazine reports that in 2023 the U.S. Air Force had 419 F-35A fighter jets, over 460 by 2024, and the number is expected to increase to 522 by 2025. During this period—from the beginning of 2023 to January 2025—there were a total of three accidents involving American F-35 fighter jets—two involving the F-35B version and one F-35A. Such incidents also occurred previously.
It's worth remembering that the F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation single-seat fighter developed by Lockheed Martin. The fighter jet is nearly 16 metres long, 4 metres tall, with a wingspan of 11 metres, and has been equipped with stealth technology. The aircraft can carry a variety of modern weaponry.
