F-35 Crashes near Albuquerque Airport
By Drew F. Lawrence and Thomas Novelly
May 29, 2024
An Air Force test pilot was hospitalized in serious condition after an F-35B Lightning II crash near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The incident occurred while the jet was en route to Edwards Air Force Base from Fort Worth, Texas, following a refueling stop at Kirtland Air Force Base. The pilot safely ejected, and fire departments promptly responded, extinguishing the crash site fire. The F-35B, a test aircraft, was being flown by an Air Force pilot assigned to the Defense Contract Management Agency. The crash is part of a series of recent incidents involving the F-35B model.