FORT WORTH, Texas — An F-35B test jet that was heading to California from Fort Worth crashed in New Mexico on Tuesday, Lockheed Martin officials said.
Lockheed Martin, which produces the F-35 jets in Fort Worth, confirmed that the crash happened after an F-35B had stopped for fuel at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. The pilot safely ejected from the jet, company officials said.
The aircraft was government-owned and operated and was being flown by a government pilot, according to Lockheed. It was a test jet and was transferring to Edwards Air Force Base in California for additional test equipment modification, the company said.
"Safety is our priority, and we will follow appropriate investigation protocol," the company said in a statement.
KOB 4 news in Albuquerque reported that the crash happened around 2 p.m. Tuesday and that the pilot was recovering at a hospital. The fighter jet had crashed and burst into flames, according to the report.
An F-35B crashed at Fort Worth's Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in December 2022, and the pilot also safely ejected. In that incident, video showed the jet hovering while landing. But when the jet hit the ground, it bounced upward and then tilted forward on its nose before spinning in a circle and tilting on its side. The pilot then ejected and landed successfully with his parachute.
