An F-35B fighter jet crashed near the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego around 10 a.m. local time on July 31, 2026 [1]. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft before the crash and was recovered with non-life-threatening injuries, receiving treatment at a local medical facility [2, 3, 1].
Officials confirmed the crash as a Class A mishap, the most serious category that applies to incidents involving damage exceeding $2 million, destruction of the aircraft, or fatalities [2, 3, 1]. The F-35B involved is a stealth fighter jet variant designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings, used by the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force [2]. Each F-35B unit costs approximately $109 million [2, 3].
The crash sparked a small fire near the site, which emergency responders quickly extinguished [2, 1]. Unnamed officials stated, "We can confirm a Class A mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity of MCAS Miramar. The pilot ejected and has been recovered. More information will be made available shortly" [1].
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash. The Marine Corps has not released further details as the inquiry proceeds.
