Pentagon temporarily banned some F-35 Lightning II fighters after plane crash in Texas
The U.S. Department of Defense followed their Israeli counterparts by grounding F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The reason is the same - the F-35B Lightning II crashed on the runway in Texas while practicing a vertical landing.
Here's What We Know
On Dec. 15, an F-35B fighter jet crashed during a vertical landing at a firing range near the Lockheed Martin plant. The aircraft had not yet been handed over to the military. The pilot was able to eject.
#Breaking New much clearer video, courtesy Kitt Wilder, of STOL variant F35 B model landing JRB Fort Worth, and pilot ejects. Condition of pilot still unknown. @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/BeERIeyhtO
- Doug Dunbar (@cbs11doug) December 15, 2022
New reports indicate the cause of the crash was a malfunction of the F135 engine. Pratt & Whitney, the propulsion company, has not yet commented on this information.
A Pentagon spokesman said on condition of anonymity that some American F-35 Lightning II aircraft are at increased risk. Therefore, it was decided to ground some of the fighters while the investigation into the incident that occurred in Texas two weeks ago continues.
The fighters are banned from flying until at least January 2023. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense declined to specify how many planes have been temporarily taken out of service. However, it is known that all three versions fell under the ban: F35A, F-35B and F-35C.
Source: Defense News
