A US Air Force pilot successfully ejected before his F-35 Lightning II fighter jet crashed and exploded during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, on January 28.
Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, stated in a news conference that the pilot experienced an “inflight malfunction” but managed to eject before the aircraft crashed during the landing phase.
The pilot had declared an inflight emergency before ejecting and was reported to be in stable condition while undergoing evaluation at a medical facility.
The crash, which occurred early Tuesday afternoon, caused extensive damage to the aircraft, according to an Air Force statement.
Eielson Air Force Base is located approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Fairbanks.
Townsend emphasized that the Air Force would conduct a “thorough investigation” to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the future.
