A US Air Force F-35 fighter jet crashed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday, but the pilot was reported to be safe.
The incident occurred on the runway, although it remains unclear whether it happened during take-off or landing, according to Eielson spokesperson Staff Sgt Kimberly Touchet as quoted in The Associated Press report.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, with officials working to confirm the details, and a news conference is planned later in the day.
The Air Force confirmed the incident took place at 12.49pm, causing significant damage to the aircraft. The pilot was safely transported to Bassett Army Hospital for evaluation. Eielson Air Force Base is located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks.
Col Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, stressed the importance of safety and security, assuring that a thorough investigation would be conducted to prevent future incidents. The base, selected in 2016 to host 54 F-35s, underwent a major expansion costing over half a billion dollars, which included new buildings and housing units for approximately 3,500 airmen and their families.
In May, an F-35 crashed after the pilot, who had refuelled in New Mexico, sustained serious injuries. In October, a Marine investigation found that an F-35 pilot ejected unnecessarily, causing the jet to fly unmanned for 11 minutes before crashing in South Carolina.
