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F-35 crashes on Eielson AFB flightline in Alaska – Pilot safe

January 29, 2025 (by Lieven Dewitte) - An F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday at 12:49PM on a flightline on Eielson Air Force Base. The pilot safely parachuted out after ejecting. The pilot was in the process of landing during a training exercise when his jet suffered an “inflight malfunction,” forcing him to eject.

An F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday at about 12:49PM on a flightline on Eielson Air Force Base. The pilot safely ejected.

According to Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, the pilot was executing normal, standard procedures when the crash occurred.

The dramatic incident was caught on video as the jet approached landing. The footage shows the aircraft spinning tightly with its landing gear extended before descending almost vertically and crashing in a fiery explosion. A deployed parachute, indicating the pilot’s ejection, is visible in the recording.

An F-35 fighter jet crashed Tue 28/01 at about 12:49PM on a flightline on Eielson Air Force Base - the pilot safely ejected. Article: f-16.net/f-35-news-ar... #f35 #eielson #crash

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F-35 Lightning II (@f-35net.bsky.social) 29 januari 2025 om 09:02


Eielson Air Force Base, located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks, serves as an operational hub for 54 of these fifth-generation jets with both the 355th Fighter Squadron and the 356th Fighter Squadron. The base received its first two F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft on April 21, 2020.

In May, an F-35 en route from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base in California crashed shortly after a refueling stop in New Mexico. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The average price of one new F-35 was set at roughly $81 million in a preliminary deal for a large order of new aircraft between the U.S. Department of Defense and manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

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Additional images:

USAF F-35A (AF-02) with major Jonathan 'Spades' Gilbert, a USAF F-35 test pilot, demonstrates the handling qualities of the F-35 during icy runway ground testing at Eielson AFB in November of 2017. The testing is part of the certification process for the Norwegian drag chute. [Lockheed photo]

USAF F-35A #19-5492 from the 355th FS is landing in Eielson AFB on March 29th during its delivery flight to the unit. [USAF photo]

USAF F-35A #19-5468 assigned to the 355th FS takes off during Red Flag-Alaska 24-3 at Eielson AFB on August 22nd, 2024. [USAF photo by SrA. Julia Lebens]