F-35 fighter jet crashes during training in Alaska, pilot escapes in nick of time

An F-35 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday (January 28, 2025), but the pilot was safe after bailing out, base officials said.

The pilot experienced an "in-flight malfunction," and was able to eject from the aircraft, U.S. Air Force Air Force Air Force Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, told a news conference, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The crash happened while landing during a training exercise, according to the report.

Eielson Air Force Base said in a statement that the incident on Tuesday afternoon resulted in "significant damage" to the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.