A F-35 fighter plane, from the “Rough Raiders” squadron, has collapsed. It's the second $ 100 million device that has been dusting in recent months
F-35C aircraft. Photo source: Apfotage / Alamy / Profimedia
A F-35 aircraft collapsed on Wednesday near the Lemoore Naval Air Base, in the center of California, confirmed the American navy, according to ABC News and CNN.
“The pilot has successfully catapulted and is out of danger. There are no other affected persons,” the LEMOORE air base sent in an official statement.
The incident took place around 4:30 pm, the local time, when the plane collapsed near the base.
The plane belonged to the VF-125 hunting squadron, known as “Rough Raiders”, the American Navy said. VF-125 is a specialized unit in the formation of pilots and air crews, which means that the device was used for training purposes.
The causes of the collapse are not known yet, and Marina announced that an investigation has been opened to establish the exact circumstances of the accident.
The crashed aircraft was a F-35C, one of the three versions of the F-35 Lightning II Multirol aircraft.
The F-35C is intended to operate on American aircraft carriers. US Air Force use F-35A, while Marine kids operate the F-35B, capable of short take-off and vertical landing.
The crashed plane, rated at about $ 100 million, is the second F-35 that collapses this year.
In January, a F-35A of the Air Force collapsed during an exercise at the Eielson base in Alaska. And in that case, the pilot managed to catapult himself safely.
