→F-35 Crash in Alaska: Pilot Communicated with Engineers in the Air for 50 Minutes
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jet crashed in January at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The accident report released by Pacific Air Forces reveals the dramatic details of the incident.
50-Minute Critical Communication
According to the report, the pilot conducted a 50-minute in-flight conference with Lockheed Martin engineers to safely land the aircraft due to problems with the landing gear. Despite all efforts, the issue could not be resolved, and the pilot had to eject from the jet.
Icing Caused the Crash
The investigation concluded that the crash was caused by icing resulting from hydraulic fluid in the landing gear being contaminated with water. This prevented both the nose and main landing gear from deploying. Sensors detected the ice mass and incorrectly assumed the aircraft was on the ground, causing the system to automatically switch to “ground operations mode.”
$200 Million Jet Turned into a Fireball
Footage captured the moments when the pilot ejected, while the $200 million F-35A erupted into flames upon impact. The pilot survived the crash with minor injuries, which was considered a stroke of luck.
The Training Flight Ended in Disaster! F-35 Fighter Jet Crashes pic.twitter.com/ZtbXAFBIGB
— Aero Haber (@aero_haber) January 29, 2025
