Washington, July 31(HS): A US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashed on Wednesday near Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, around 6:30 PM. The pilot safely exited the aircraft, which crashed into a field 40 miles southwest of Fresno and caught fire. An investigation has been initiated by the Navy, with assistance from California fire crews, as the cause of the crash remains unknown. The jet belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125 (Rough Raiders), which trains pilots and aircrew.

The F-35, a fifth-generation fighter valued at about $100 million, is a crucial component of the US military fleet. Earlier in January, another aircraft crashed in Alaska, but the pilot there also escaped unscathed. Concerns over F-35 maintenance and operational issues have increased recently.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar