A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II crashed during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, causing significant damage to the aircraft. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to Bassett Army Community Hospital, officials confirmed.
Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, stated that the pilot experienced an in-flight malfunction before ejecting. The incident occurred during landing, and a full investigation is underway to determine the cause.
Costliest Defense Program Under Scrutiny
The F-35 program is the most expensive defense initiative in U.S. history, with the Pentagon planning to invest $1.7 trillion for the purchase of 2,500 aircraft over the coming decades. The jet, built by Lockheed Martin, generates about 30% of the company’s total revenue.
Lockheed recently announced that delays in F-35 upgrades would impact its profitability in 2025. The latest crash may raise further concerns over the program’s cost and reliability.
Townsend assured that the U.S. Air Force would conduct a thorough investigation to minimize the risk of similar incidents in the future.
