(LibertySociety.com) – Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jet is hailed as the most advanced aircraft of its kind in the world. There are three versions of aircraft used by three branches of the US military: the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. It’s 5th Generation, meaning it includes the most cutting-edge technology. But even the best of the best can have accidents.
On December 15, officials revealed an F-35B Lightning II went down at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in North Texas. The pilot reportedly experienced a problem with the aircraft while landing near the base and had to eject. His condition was unknown at the time of the crash, but in footage, he appeared to land without any issues. On December 16, the Air Force Times reported that he was released from the hospital without any severe injuries.
A pilot ejected from a Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fighter jet during a failed landing at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth Thursday morning. – @NBCDFW https://t.co/Bldt0WuOtI
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) December 16, 2022
According to the video shared on social media, the fighter jet was hovering over the runway at the base, which is one of its capabilities. The aircraft soon started to descend slowly, touching its wheels to the ground before tipping forward and smashing its nose onto the strip’s surface. The aircraft moved erratically across the ground for a few seconds before the pilot ejected from the vehicle. He landed not too far away from the site of the incident.
The facility where the crash took place is home to the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Reserves. The USMC operates the F-35B variant of the Lightning II fighter jet. Fox News reported that Lockheed asserts the F-35 program overall has an excellent “safety record.”
Copyright 2022, LibertySociety.com
