RT reported that on January 28, the collision of an F-35 fighter jet took place at Eielson Air Force Base, near the city of Fairbanks, Alaska (USA) at 13:00 (local time). US officials said the incident caused significant damage to the fighter jet.
Video footage of the scene shows the F-35 aircraft falling freely after takeoff and being completely destroyed upon impact with the ground. However, the pilot was still safe after ejecting in time and was taken to Bassett Military Hospital shortly afterwards.
Rescue forces, including fire trucks and ambulances, were quickly on the scene to handle the situation. The US immediately blocked off the affected runway area and launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.
“People are our most important asset, and we are committed to keeping them safe,” said Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing.
Eielson Air Force Base is strategically important to the US and has been chosen as the location to deploy 54 F-35 aircraft since 2016. The US Air Force can easily reach any region of the Northern Hemisphere in just one sortie from this location.
In recent years, the US has faced a series of accidents involving F-35 aircraft. Previously, in October 2023, a pilot ejected from the aircraft without reason, causing the aircraft to crash in southern California. This was followed by the crash of an F-35 flying from Texas to California in May 2024.
The F-35 is called “the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world” by Lockheed Martin (a US military weapons manufacturer). Equipped with many modern weapons and a coating and radar-absorbing materials, the F-35 is difficult to detect.
According to the manufacturer, the F-35 fighter jet has a maximum speed of up to 1,900 km/h and can travel more than 2,000 km when fully refueled. Under favorable conditions, the F-35 can reach an altitude of about 15 km.
