US Navy F-35C Crashes, Pilot Safe in California

A US Navy F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, on July 30, 2025, during a training mission with the VFA-125 Rough Raiders squadron. The pilot, described as experienced, safely ejected before the jet crashed in a cotton field and erupted in flames, with emergency crews containing a fire that spread across five acres. The pilot was transported to a hospital and reported to be in good condition, with no fatalities or injuries on the ground. The cause of the crash remains under federal investigation. This was the second F-35 crash in the US in 2025, intensifying scrutiny over the program's reliability and high costs. Despite these incidents, the F-35 has a lower accident rate compared to its predecessor, the F-16.