A US Navy F-35 fighter jet has crashed near the Leemore Naval Air Station, located around 40 miles (64 kilometres) southwest of the city of Fresno in central California, according to a Navy press statement. The pilot managed to successfully eject and has reportedly been airlifted to a hospital.

The incident that occurred around 6:30 pm (local time) is under investigation, the statement said.

Visuals from the spot show thick plumes of smoke rising from the burning debris.

Per the US Navy, the aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the “Rough Raiders.” VF-125 is a Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training pilots and aircrews.

The F-35 is a family of 5th-generation, single-seat, single-engine stealth multirole combat aircraft designed to perform air superiority, strike, electronic warfare, and intelligence-gathering missions.

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