An F-35B Lightning II fighter jet crashed close to the Albuquerque Worldwide Sunport in New Mexico on Tuesday, and its pilot has been critically injured, native authorities mentioned.
Fireplace rescue groups responded to the crash simply earlier than 2 p.m., and the pilot was despatched to hospital whereas acutely aware, mentioned Albuquerque Fireplace Rescue spokesperson Lt. Jason Fejer.
Two different civilians on the scene had been assessed for accidents and launched.
CBS Information reported, citing two unnamed US officers, that the F-35 was a brand new developmental mannequin being delivered to the US army from Lockheed Martin.
The jet was being transferred from a Lockheed Martin facility at Naval Air Reserve Station in Fort Price, Texas, to the Edwards Air Drive Base in southern California, per the outlet.
ABC Information reported, citing one unnamed US official, that the jet crashed simply after refueling in Albuquerque and was being flown by a pilot for a protection contract company. The outlet additionally reported that the F-35 was new.
“Flight operations have resumed, however test along with your airline for flight standing,” airport officers wrote about three hours after the crash.
Fejer advised NBC affiliate KOB that native fireplace crews wanted help from Kirkland Air Drive Base.
“We supply 500 gallons of water on our equipment and small foam tanks, but it surely’s no match for a jet gasoline fireplace of that scope,” mentioned Fejer, per KOB.
The Albuquerque-based outlet revealed footage of firefighters spraying water on the smoldering wreckage of the F-35 with a primary street in view.
Lockheed Martin and Kirkland Air Drive Base didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark despatched outdoors common enterprise hours by Enterprise Insider.
The final report of an F-35 crash was in September when a pilot ejected throughout coaching over South Carolina. The stealth fighter then went lacking, flying about 80 miles earlier than crashing.
F-35Bs have been reported to value as much as $135 million per fighter, but it surely’s unclear how a lot the jet that crashed on Tuesday was value.
