Pilot ejects as F-35 crashes at MCAS Miramar, sparking fire

An F-35B assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, crashed Friday morning on the flight line at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, prompting an emergency response and igniting a brush fire, according to authorities.

Emergency personnel responded to what the Marine Corps described as an "aircraft mishap" on the flight line at about 10 a.m. local time, 1st Lt. Blake Starbuck told Fox News.

According to a Marine Corps news release issued Friday afternoon, the pilot ejected and was taken to a local medical facility in stable condition for evaluation and treatment of injuries that are not life-threatening.

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The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Starbuck said he did not immediately have information on the purpose of the flight, whether the aircraft was departing or arriving, or whether it was conducting a training mission.

The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation stealth fighter built by Lockheed Martin. The aircraft is operated by the Marine Corps and is designed to conduct air-to-air combat, strike missions and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

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Starbuck said he did not immediately have information on the purpose of the flight, whether the aircraft was departing or arriving, or whether it was conducting a training mission.

The Marine Corps routinely investigates aviation mishaps to determine what caused an incident and whether changes are needed to prevent similar accidents. Officials have not said when additional details about the investigation could be released.

Video from SkyRanger 7 showed the aircraft in two pieces amid a football-field-sized scorched area. A fire burned in a field north of State Route 52 and was visible from the freeway, prompting calls to the California Highway Patrol.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed to Fox News it was assisting with the brush fire, but said the military has jurisdiction over the incident.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the Marine Corps' principal aviation force on the West Coast. The installation supports a variety of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft used for training and operational missions.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.