On May 28, an aircraft resembling an F-35 crashed in New Mexico, seriously injuring the pilot. The crash occurred near Kirtland AFB. This is the first F-35 hull loss since last September.
By Shreya M
On May 28 at 2 p.m. local time, an aircraft resembling a Lockheed Martin F-35 crashed in New Mexico, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot, according to local reports and authorities. The Albuquerque International Sunport confirmed that a military aircraft went down on the south side of the commercial airport, which shares runways with Kirtland Air Force Base.
At Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, the pilot successfully exited the aircraft but incurred serious injuries and was promptly taken to a hospital, as reported by Lt. Jason Fejer, a spokesman for Albuquerque Fire Rescue. Visual evidence from the scene, including images and videos, revealed wreckage that closely matched the single-engine F-35 in appearance. The remains of the aircraft were discovered in a direct line from the end of the 10,000-foot diagonal Runway 21, indicating the probable trajectory and crash path of the aircraft.
This crash marks the first known hull loss in the F-35 fleet since last September, when a pilot ejected from an F-35B over North Charleston, South Carolina, with only minor injuries. The aircraft, however, continued to fly after the ejection and wasn't found until the following day.
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