F-35 from Nellis Air Force Base Crashes in Nevada

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., crashed in the sprawling training complex surrounding the base, service officials said March 31. The pilot suffered minor injuries and is being treated after ejecting from the aircraft.

The 57th Wing, which oversees the major USAF installation near Las Vegas, said the incident occurred within the Nevada Test and Training Range, a large complex of restricted airspace covering some 5,000 square miles and over 2.9 million acres of land. The NTTR provides simulated threats, weapons ranges, and airspace for aircraft to hone tactics and supports major exercises such as Red Flag.

According to an Air Force official, the aircraft was permanently assigned to Nellis, which often hosts visiting aircraft but has its own fleet of F-35s.

The 57th Wing confirmed in a statement to Air & Space Forces Magazine that the crash occurred north of Las Vegas and approximately 25 miles northeast of Indian Springs, Nev., where Creech Air Force Base, a major remotely piloted aircraft base, is located. The unit said that the incident occurred “within the controlled airspace and restricted federal property of the Nevada Test & Training Range.”

The incident appears to be confined to the U.S. government property, with no other reported injuries other than to the pilot, according to the statement from the wing. 

“Emergency responders are on-scene and there is no impact to populated areas,” the 57th Wing added. “The pilot is safe and being treated for minor injuries. The safety of our personnel and the community remain our top priority.”

Air Force officials did not immediately provide a cause of the mishap.