Pilot safe after F-35 military jet suffers ‘significant damage' in accident at Alaska base
A U.S. Air Force pilot was reported to be safe after a single-seat F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday during a training exercise at a base in Alaska.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A U.S. Air Force pilot was reported to be safe after a single-seat F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday during a training exercise at a base in Alaska.
The pilot experienced an “inflight malfunction” but was able to eject from the aircraft, Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, told a news conference. The plane crashed during the landing phase of the flight at Eielson Air Force Base, he said.
The pilot had declared an inflight emergency prior to the crash and was in stable condition and being evaluated at a medical facility, he said.
The crash, which occurred early Tuesday afternoon, caused significant damage to the aircraft, the Air Force said in a statement.
Eielson Air Force Base is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Fairbanks.
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