Officials at Lemoore Naval Air Station Lemoore said Wednesday night that an F35-C Lightning II fighter pilot was “safe” after ejecting before the aircraft crashed.
“We can confirm the pilot successfully ejected and is safe. There are no additional affected personnel,” NAS Lemoore said in a Facebook post.
Emergency crews responded Wednesday evening and assisted the pilot after the fighter jet crashed into a field in Fresno County near NAS Lemoore.
The crash was reported around 6:40 p.m. near Cadillac and Dickinson avenues, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
CalFire and sheriff’s deputies also responded. CalFire said the crash ignited a 5-acre blaze that was suppressed by 11 p.m.
The F-35C is attached to the VFA-125 Rough Raiders, a strike fighter squadron based at NAS Lem