F-35 fighter jet crashes in Alaska, pilot ejects safely: Video

Jan 29

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

A U.S. Air Force pilot is recovering after safely ejecting from an F-35 fighter jet that crashed during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The crash occurred Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 12:49 p.m. local time as the aircraft attempted to land.

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Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, said the pilot declared an in-flight emergency before ejecting. The pilot was taken to Bassett Army Hospital in stable condition for further evaluation.

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Crash captured on video

Video of the incident shows the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 descending rapidly, spinning downward with its landing gear extended before hitting the ground and erupting into flames. The footage also captured the pilot’s parachute deploying moments before impact.

Officials confirmed that the crash caused significant damage to the aircraft, which is estimated to cost around $80 million.

Townsend urged against early speculation and said investigators are working to determine what caused the malfunction.

Eielson Air Force Base: A strategic hub for F-35s

Eielson Air Force Base, located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks, houses more than 50 F-35s, making it one of the largest concentrations of these advanced fighter jets in the U.S. military.

In recent years, the base underwent a $500 million expansion to accommodate the aircraft, bringing thousands of personnel and upgraded infrastructure.

The F-35 is a key component of U.S. air power, used by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

Known for its stealth capabilities, advanced sensors and multi-role combat abilities, the aircraft plays a crucial role in military operations. However, despite its cutting-edge technology, the jet has been involved in several crashes in recent months.

Concerns grow over recent F-35 incidents

Tuesday’s crash in Alaska is the latest in a series of F-35 incidents, raising concerns about the jet’s reliability.

In May, an F-35 crashed in New Mexico after stopping to refuel en route from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base in California. The pilot survived but suffered serious injuries.

In October, a Marine Corps investigation found that a pilot ejected unnecessarily from an F-35 over South Carolina in 2023, leaving the jet to fly on its own for 11 minutes before crashing.

Air Force launches investigation

The Air Force launched a formal investigation into the latest crash.

Townsend emphasized that the goal is to determine the cause of the malfunction and prevent future incidents. He reassured that pilot safety remains a top priority.

For now, Eielson officials urge the public to avoid the crash site to allow recovery teams to work. Federal law also prohibits photography near the base.

Officials said more details will be released as the investigation continues.

Tags: Air Force, Alaska, Crash, F-35, fighter jets, plane crash, U.S. Air Force

[Craig Nigrelli]

A U.S. AIR FORCE PILOT IS RECOVERING AFTER EJECTING FROM AN F-35 FIGHTER JET THAT CRASHED DURING A TRAINING EXERCISE AT EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE IN ALASKA.

THE CRASH HAPPENED TUESDAY AT 12:49 P.M. LOCAL TIME AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND. THE PILOT DECLARED AN IN-FLIGHT EMERGENCY BEFORE EJECTING AND WAS TAKEN TO BASSETT ARMY HOSPITAL IN STABLE CONDITION.

VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT SHOWS THE LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT F-35 SPINNING DOWNWARD WITH ITS LANDING GEAR EXTENDED BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND, IGNITING A FIREBALL. A PARACHUTE WAS VISIBLE IN THE FOOTAGE, CONFIRMING THE PILOT’S EJECTION.

COLONEL PAUL TOWNSEND, COMMANDER OF THE 354TH FIGHTER WING, SAID THE CRASH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT, VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $80 MILLION. HE EMPHASIZED THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE BUT CAUTIONED AGAINST EARLY SPECULATION.

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTH OF FAIRBANKS, HOUSES MORE THAN 50 F-35S, MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST CONCENTRATIONS OF THE JETS IN THE U.S. MILITARY. IN 2016 THE BASE UNDERWENT A $500 MILLION EXPANSION TO ACCOMMODATE THE AIRCRAFT, ADDING NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND PERSONNEL.

THE F-35 IS A KEY COMPONENT OF U.S. AIR POWER, UTILIZED BY THE AIR FORCE, NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS. IT BOASTS STEALTH CAPABILITIES, ADVANCED SENSORS, AND MULTI-ROLE COMBAT ABILITIES. HOWEVER, THE JET HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE CRASHES IN RECENT MONTHS.

IN MAY, AN F-35 CRASHED IN NEW MEXICO AFTER A REFUELING STOP WHILE EN ROUTE FROM TEXAS TO EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT SURVIVED BUT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. IN OCTOBER, A MARINE CORPS INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT A PILOT EJECTED UNNECESSARILY FROM AN F-35 OVER SOUTH CAROLINA IN 2023, LEAVING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLY UNMANNED FOR 11 MINUTES BEFORE CRASHING.

THE AIR FORCE HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALASKA CRASH. TOWNSEND SAID THE PRIORITY IS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS WHILE ENSURING PILOT SAFETY.

OFFICIALS ARE URGING THE PUBLIC TO AVOID THE CRASH SITE TO ALLOW RECOVERY TEAMS TO WORK. FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS PHOTOGRAPHY NEAR THE BASE.

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