Shocking moment $81m F-35 fighter plane spirals out of control & hits ground before bursting into fireball at air base
The moment an F-35 fighter plane went out of control and burst into a fireball has been caught on DRAMATIC video.
The $81 million plane was shown on camera spinning as it crashed into the ground in Alaska.
During a training mission on Tuesday, the 1,200 mph F-35 Lightning II jet crashed at the Eielson Air Force Base.
An in-flight problem caused the pilot to eject, according to officials.
Social media footagedisplayed the aircraft moving toward the earth.
The footage also included the sound of airplane engine thrusts.
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The aircraft was rapidly spinning and losing control, veering in the direction of the runway.
The plane exploded into flames, creating a massive blaze as it crashed into a runway.
Another fighter jet’s explosion was visible behind one of its engines.
Within the mushroom-shaped plumes of smoke were orange flames.
The pilot, meanwhile, was observed jumping out of the aircraft.
The pilot is safe, according to US Air Force 354th Fighter Wing Commander Paul Townsend.
He was taken urgently to a nearby hospital for examinations.
He told reporters, “Our people are our most valuable resource, and we are dedicated to ensuring their safety and security.”
Chiefs of the US Air Force have opened an investigation.
One of the top stealth fighter jets is the F-35, which is manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
F-35 Lightning II fact file
An essential component of the US security strategy is the F-35 fighter jet. Because they can carry a variety of weaponry and have sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, the stealth fighters are admired worldwide.
-
Speed
: Around 1,200mph -
Thrust
: 43,000 pounds -
Height:
14 feet -
Length:
51 feet -
Wingspan:
35 feet -
Engines:
One single turbofan engine -
Maximum takeoff weight:
70,000 pounds -
Range:
1,200 nautical miles -
Features:
Advanced radar jamming systems, an advanced helmet that can process mission information, and highly advanced sensor suite.
Nelson Air Force Base is the source.
The aircraft can carry long-range anti-ship missiles and Joint Air-to-Surface stand-off missiles, and they can achieve top speeds of Mach 1.6.
The jets are equipped with electronic warfare technologies that may jam radars, track enemy movements, and lessen strikes.
President Donald Trump referred to the F-35 as an invisible aircraft in 2017.
“You just can’t see it,” he exclaimed.
Fighting a jet you can’t see is difficult.
Trump has emphasized the jet’s advantages, but Elon Musk, his new best friend, has criticized X.
F-35 DEBATE
Musk called the design of the F-35 “s**t.”
He also concurred with analysts who claim that drones are the next big thing in warfare.
Musk posted a video showing a group of tiny drones along with the caption, “In the meantime, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35.”
The Teslatycoon is leading the Department of Government Efficiency and has been cozying up to Trump in recent months.
About $2 trillion in savings is what the advisory council hopes to achieve.
However, the price of an F-35 jet has become a divisive topic on Capitol Hill and in the Pentagon.
The cost of a fighter jet was about $135.8 million in 2021.
The price has now been reduced to about $81 million.
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Defense commanders must, however, make sure the F-35 can continue to respond to the world’s changing security threats.
The F-35 engine, radar, and missiles are all undergoing upgrades, which will cost about $16.5 billion.