F-35B Lightning II test fighter crashed in the US - pilot taken to hospital with serious injuries

The Pentagon has lost another fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. The aircraft crashed in the state of New Mexico.

Here's What We Know

The Defence Contract Management Agency pilot was flying from the Lockheed Martin plant in Texas to Edwards Air Force Base, California. The route included a refuelling stop in New Mexico at Kirtland Air Force Base.

The F-35 Lightning II arrived for refuelling at 13:00 local time. Forty-eight minutes later, the aircraft crashed southwest of a US Air Force base. The pilot was able to eject but suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. As of Tuesday evening, his condition was assessed as stable.

Lockheed Martin said the crashed aircraft was a fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II short takeoff and vertical landing test fighter. It was en route to Edwards Base in Los Angeles for upgrades to integrate test equipment.

The loss of the test aircraft could slow an already lagging modernisation programme. The Pentagon has not accepted F-35 Lightning II fighters since last summer due to Technology Refresh 3 software issues.

Source: Breaking Defence