F-35 Crash in Nevada Leaves Pilot With Minor Injuries

Air Force says the aircraft went down on restricted federal property north of Las Vegas.

F-35 Crash in Nevada Range Leaves Pilot With Minor Injuries
[Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Betty R. Chevalier]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An F-35 fighter jet from Nellis Air Force Base crashed in the Nevada Test and Training Range.
  • The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and sustained only minor injuries.
  • The incident occurred in a controlled, restricted area, ensuring no impact on populated areas, and the cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
See a mistake? Contact us.

A U.S. Air Force F-35 from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, crashed Tuesday in the Nevada Test and Training Range. The pilot safely ejected and sustained minor injuries.

The 57th Wing, which oversees operations at Nellis, said the aircraft went down north of Las Vegas, approximately 25 miles northeast of Indian Springs, Nevada. According to a statement, the incident occurred “within the controlled airspace and restricted federal property of the Nevada Test & Training Range.”

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

KSNV News 3 also reported that sources had indicated the pilot ejected after reporting difficulty maneuvering the aircraft, though Air Force officials had not publicly identified a cause.

Matt Ryan

Matt is AVweb's lead editor. His eyes have been turned to the sky for as long as he can remember. Now a fixed-wing pilot, instructor and aviation writer, Matt also leads and teaches a high school aviation program in the Dallas area. Beyond his lifelong obsession with aviation, Matt loves to travel and has lived in Greece, Czechia and Germany for studies and for work.

Continue discussion - Visit the forum

Replies: 1

  1. Virtually zero information - not even which version, on departure, approach, tactical maneuvering?

Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE

Please support AVweb.

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker. Ads keep AVweb free and fund our reporting.
Please whitelist AVweb or continue with ads enabled.