A pilot safely ejected from an F-35C fighter jet before it crashed in Central California on July 30, according to the U.S. Navy.

“We can confirm the pilot successfully ejected and is safe,” the Naval Air Station at Lemoore posted on Facebook.

No other military personnel were affected by the accident, according to the Navy.

The fighter jet attached to the VFA-125 Rough Raiders crashed and burst into flames in a cotton field in an agricultural area of Fresno County, according to a video of the incident posted by the local sheriff’s office.

The F-35C is the first and only long-range stealth strike fighter designed specifically for Navy carrier operations.

Authorities responded to the accident at around 6:40 p.m. on July 30 just north of the Naval Air Station Lemoore, the sheriff’s office reported.

First responders searched for the pilot and found him with a parachute in a nearby field. A helicopter transported the pilot to a hospital for evaluation.

Fire crews and equipment were on scene for hours after the crash.

Firefighters used a bulldozer to cut a path to the jet so fire engines could get close enough to extinguish the flames, the sheriff’s office reported.

“The military is now conducting an investigation to try and determine the cause of the crash,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Flames rise from the crash after a pilot safely ejected from a fighter jet north of Naval Air Station Lemoore in Central California on July 30, 2025. (Fresno County Sheriff's Office)

The Naval Air Station Lemoore, established in 1961, is the Navy’s premier West Coast tactical station, supporting the nation’s Pacific fleet by training, manning, and equipping the West Coast Fighter Squadrons.

The station is also the Navy’s largest Master Jet Base, designated as the permanent site for carrier-based tactical jet squadrons, carrier air wings, and other supporting activities.

The F-35C is built for catapult-assisted takeoff and landings on aircraft carriers. It is known for its stealth capabilities and ability to operate in contested airspace. The jet costs about $102 million to build, making the Fresno County crash an expensive loss for the Navy. It was the second reported crash of an F-35 series jet this year.

Fire crews and equipment were on scene for hours after the crash. (Fresno County Sheriff's Office)

In January, the Air Force confirmed an F-35A crashed during a training flight at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The pilot also ejected during the crash and survived.

The F-34A is designed for conventional takeoff and landing.

Authorities in the Alaska incident reported the jet was preparing to land during a training flight when an in-flight emergency occurred.