An F-35 crashed near Albuquerque International. According to the first reports, the pilot successfully ejected.
An F-35 Lightning II aircraft has crashed near Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), New Mexico, on May 28, 2024. Images showing the explosion the emergency team trying to extinguish the fire at the crash site have started circulating online.
I just witnessed a major, horrific aircraft crash with an explosion and dust rising into the air while I’m on my flight on the runway. I will report on it soon, waiting for more details but the person behind me said it was possible it was a helicopter or some type of single… pic.twitter.com/NA8pQVdV6W
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 28, 2024
#BREAKING A F-35 fighter jet just crashed during takeoff at Albuquerque International, New Mexico.
Pilot reportedly ejected. pic.twitter.com/eAFSmgWJ00
— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 28, 2024
According to KOB4, the pilot would be conscious and breathing and has been taken to the hospital.
The F-35 had just taken off from Runway 21 at ABQ.
F-35 mishap at Albuquerque? Audio via @liveatc https://t.co/8E9eu1HHhn pic.twitter.com/wnYAHt4OwR
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) May 28, 2024
Although it’s too early to say, by the look of the wreckage, it looks like the type was an F-35B (to be confirmed).
Previous crashes
The most recent crash of a U.S. F-35 occurred on Sept. 17, 2023, when a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B crashed in South Carolina after the pilot ejected due to a malfunction. The aircraft continued flying for about 60 miles before crashing in a field near Indiantown, South Carolina. The incident led to a day-long search for the wreckage, which was eventually found in a field.
Previously, on Dec. 15, 2022, an F-35B crashed during a vertical landing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas. The F-35B involved in that crash was Lockheed-owned (hence not yet delivered to/accepted by the final customer).
This is developing story, we will update it as soon as new details emerge.
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
