US’s F-35 fighter jet crashes in Alaska
Alaska: According to base officials, an F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, but the pilot survived after rescuing himself.
According to an Associated Press story, US Air Force Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, told a news conference that the pilot had a “in-flight malfunction” and was able to parachute from the aircraft.
According to the report, the crash occurred during a training exercise during landing.
According to a statement from Eielson Air Force Base, the Tuesday afternoon incident caused “significant damage” to the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
The statement said the pilot was brought to Bassett Army Hospital and was safe.
Townsend stated in the statement, “I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences happening again.”
About 30% of Lockheed Martin’s profits come from the F-35, the most costly US defense program and the company’s largest source of income.
Earlier on Tuesday, Lockheed announced that it would be less lucrative than anticipated in 2025, partly due to a delayed launch of F-35 modifications.
In the upcoming decades, the Pentagon intends to purchase 2,500 F-35 aircraft as part of its $1.7 trillion investment in the program.
RESOURCE: REUTERS
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