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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.

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.
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.
Consider to follow us on Bluesky for more F-35 news and updates.

An F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday at about 12:49PM on a flightline on Eielson Air Force Base. The pilot safely ejected.
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
— F-35 Lightning II (@f-35net.bsky.social) 29 januari 2025 om 09:02
[image or embed]
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.
Consider to follow us on Bluesky for more F-35 news and updates.
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- F-35B crashes in New Mexico; pilot suffers serious injuries ( 2024-05-29)
- F-35B goes missing after pilot ejects following a mishap ( 2023-09-18)
- F-35B crash-lands in Fort Worth, TX - pilot ejected ( 2022-12-16)
- F-35A fleet doubles at Eielson ( 2020-06-29)
- Eielson welcomes F-35A Lightning II ( 2020-04-21)
- F-35 Lightning II news archive
External link:
- Video of the F-35 crash at Eielson Air Force Base ( @f-35net.bsky.social)
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- F-35 fighter jet crashed on a flightline on Eielson Base ( 18 replies)
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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]