Pictures coming from Texas present the F-35B, nostril down, subsequent to the runway, after the pilot ejected.

An incident, involving a Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II plane, occurred on the shared runway at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Price, Texas, shortly earlier than 10.15AM LT on Dec. 15, 2022. In line with the primary reports, native Police have been known as to assist clear onlookers away from a roadway that runs adjoining to a runway the place officers have been responding to and investigating the incident to the jet.

Stay footage from NBC and Fox 4 present the jet sitting on its nostril subsequent to the runway, with the lacking ejection seat (and cover).

An announcement was issued by Lockheed Martin following the incident: “We’re conscious of the F-35B crash on the shared runway at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Price and perceive that the pilot ejected efficiently. Security is our precedence, and we’ll observe acceptable investigation protocol.” No extra element in regards to the mishap has been shared to this point.

Lockheed Martin assembles the F-35s on the government-owned, contractor-operated aerospace facility in Fort Price, Texas, known as Air Drive Plant 4. The power is dwelling to the F-16 and F-35 fighter plane and shares the RWY 18/36 with the adjoining NAS JRB Fort Price (previously Carswell Air Drive Base). The plane was most likely concerned in a take a look at flight and primarily based on the photographs we’ve got seen to this point, it was most likely configured for hovering or brief/vertical touchdown, thought-about the place of the exhaust nozzle and Raise fan. Truly, additionally the weapons bay appears to be open.

In line with the studies, the F-35B concerned within the crash is Lockheed-owned (therefore not but delivered to/accepted by the ultimate buyer).

A video of the incident has emerged.

#Breaking New a lot clearer video, courtesy Kitt Wilder, of STOL variant F35 B mannequin touchdown JRB Fort Price, and pilot ejects. Situation of pilot nonetheless unknown. @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/BeERIeyhtO

— Doug Dunbar (@cbs11doug) December 15, 2022

Earlier this month, an F-35B Lightning II, belonging to the Marine Fighter Assault Squadron (VMFA) 121 ‘Inexperienced Knights’, was concerned in an incident on the bottom at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, when the nose gear collapsed because the plane was being towed on the taxiway following a precautionary touchdown.

David Cenciotti is a journalist primarily based in Rome, Italy. He’s the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of many world’s most well-known and browse army aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for main worldwide magazines, together with Air Forces Month-to-month, Fight Plane, and plenty of others, protecting aviation, protection, conflict, business, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown a number of fight planes with totally different air forces. He’s a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Drive, a personal pilot and a graduate in Pc Engineering. He has written 5 books and contributed to many extra ones.