F-35 Fighter Jet Crashes at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska; Pilot Ejects Safely
An F-35 fighter jet crashed in Alaska on Tuesday after the pilot successfully ejected, as reported by officials.
The incident happened shortly before 1 p.m. within the boundaries of Eielson Air Force Base, located approximately 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, according to the 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs.
They confirmed that the pilot was unharmed and was taken to Bassett Army Hospital for additional assessment.
“Our personnel are our greatest asset, and we are dedicated to ensuring their safety and protection,” stated Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing. “I can guarantee that the United States Air Force will carry out a detailed investigation of this incident to reduce the likelihood of similar events in the future.”
Last May, a pilot sustained serious injuries after ejecting from an F-35 before it crashed near Albuquerque International Sunport. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was en route from Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base in California, having stopped at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico for refueling.
As outlined in a fact sheet, each F-35 aircraft is valued at $135 million.