F-35C Worth R$ 550 Million Crashes During Training In California — It’s The Second Incident Involving The Model This Year

A F-35C Crashed In California During Training, Marking The Second Accident With This Model In 2025. The Pilot Ejected And Is Doing Fine.

A F-35C Lightning II crashed on Wednesday near the Naval Air Station Lemoore in Central California. The aircraft belonged to the “Rough Raiders” of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-125. The pilot successfully ejected and was unharmed.

According to the base’s statement, the accident occurred around 4:30 PM local time. The F-35C was participating in a training mission. NAS Lemoore confirmed that no other personnel were affected by the incident.

Carrier Version And Elite Jet

The F-35C is the version developed to operate on aircraft carriers. It is part of the F-35 program, which also includes the Air Force’s F-35A and the Marine Corps’ F-35B. The fighter is considered one of the most advanced aircraft ever built, with stealth capability and cutting-edge technology.

Most importantly, the estimated value of the jet exceeds US$ 100 million. This makes the loss significant both financially and strategically. Furthermore, this was the second accident involving an F-35 this year.

Previous Accident And Growing Criticism

In January, an F-35A from the Air Force crashed during training at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The pilot also ejected and survived. The two accidents within a few months raise concerns about the performance and reliability of the fleet.

The F-35 program, developed by Lockheed Martin, involves over 17 countries. Despite the advancements, it faces criticism due to recurring failures and maintenance issues. The Navy stated that an investigation is already underway to determine the cause of the crash in California.

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