A US Navy F-35C fighter jet crashed Wednesday evening near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California, according to an official Navy statement. The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft.
The fighter was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-125, known as the “Rough Raiders.” This unit functions as a Fleet Replacement Squadron responsible for training Navy pilots and aircrew to operate the F-35C Lightning II, the Navy’s most advanced carrier-capable stealth fighter.
The crash site is located near NAS Lemoore, approximately 40 miles southwest of Fresno. No civilian casualties or property damage have been reported so far.
The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time. The US Navy has confirmed that an investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
