The crash happened around 6:30 pm in farmland about 40 miles southwest of Fresno. A video showed big clouds of black smoke and fire rising from the crash site near the airbase.

Emergency teams, including paramedics and firefighters, quickly reached the area to help. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office was also involved in the response. The jet belonged to the “Rough Raiders,” a squadron that trains Navy pilots on how to fly the F-35C, which is specially designed for aircraft carrier missions.

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This is the second F-35 crash in 2025. In January, an Air Force F-35A crashed during training in Alaska, with the pilot ejecting safely as well. The F-35 is made by Lockheed Martin and is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. It’s very expensive about $100 million each and used by over 17 countries.

Despite its advanced features like stealth and high-tech systems, the F-35 has faced criticism because of maintenance problems and how often it’s ready for missions.

Regarding the tragic crash, Lockheed Martin has not yet provided a statement.
Despite its cutting-edge technology, the fighter jet s dependability is called into question by the recent F-35 collision near California.

The pilot s safe ejection is a relief, but the fact that there were two crashes in a single year shows how difficult it is to maintain these intricate aircraft.