RT reported that on January 28, the F-35 fighter jet crash occurred at Eielson Air Force Base, near Fairbanks City, Alaska (USA) at 1:00 p.m. (local time). US officials said the incident caused significant damage to the fighter.
Video recording the scene shows the F-35 plane landing freely after takeoff and being completely destroyed when it collides with the ground. However, the pilot was still safe after parachuting to escape in time and was taken to Bassett Military Hospital immediately.
Rescue forces, including fire trucks and ambulances, quickly arrived at the scene to handle the situation. The US immediately blocked off the affected runway area and conducted an investigation into the cause of the incident.
Commander of the 354th Fighter Group, Colonel Paul Townsend, emphasized: "People are our most important asset, and we are committed to ensuring their safety."
Eielson Air Force Base has a particularly important strategic position for the US and has been chosen as the site for the deployment of 54 F-35s since 2016. The US Air Force can easily reach any part of the Northern Hemisphere with just one takeoff there.
In recent years, the US has faced a series of F-35-related accidents. Previously, in October 2023, a pilot parachuted from a plane without a reason to land south of California. The next connection was the crash of an F-35 while flying from Texas to California in May 2024.
The F-35 is billed by lockheed Martin (an American military arms manufacturer) as the Worlds Most Military Fighter. Equipped with many modern weapons and paint coating and radar wave absorption materials, making it difficult for the F-35 to detect.
According to the manufacturer, the F-35 fighter jet has a maximum speed of up to 1,900 km/h and travels more than 2,000 km when refueled. In favorable conditions, the F-35 can reach an altitude of about 15 km.
