A Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter was involved in a serious aviation mishap on Friday morning near the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, located just outside of San Diego. Military officials confirmed that the advanced aircraft went down at approximately 10 a.m. local time. Fortunately, the pilot successfully ejected from the jet before the crash and was quickly recovered by emergency responders. They have since been transported to a nearby medical facility, where they are reportedly in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

Video footage shared across social media platforms captured the aftermath of the crash, showing a column of smoke billowing from the site as emergency crews worked to extinguish the flames. MCAS Miramar, a base widely recognized as the former home of the Navy’s elite "Top Gun" flight school, is currently handling the investigation into the incident. The F-35B, a specialized variant of the stealth fighter known for its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, carries a significant price tag of roughly $109 million per unit.