Marine Corps F-35B crashes near Miramar base; pilot ejects safely
What's new: The jet was destroyed in a Class A mishap near San Diego, the military's most severe accident category.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter crashed Friday near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego after the pilot ejected. The pilot was taken to a local medical facility in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, the Marine Corps said. Video from the scene showed black smoke rising from wreckage in a dirt field as military crews and firefighters responded. San Diego Fire said crews also tackled a vegetation fire sparked near the crash site. The Marine Corps classified the loss as a Class A mishap, a category used when damage exceeds $2 million, an aircraft is destroyed or a service member is killed. An F-35B costs about $109 million and is designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings.