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An Air Force investigation blamed the crash on ice in the hydraulic lines in the nose and main landing gears of the F-35, which prevented them from deploying properly.
F-35 fighter jet crashes at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. (Image: X)
A US Air Force F-35 pilot spent 50 minutes on an airborne conference call mid-air with engineers trying to solve a problem with his fighter jet before he ejected and the plane that plunged to the ground in Alaska earlier this year. The pilot was trying to resolve a critical malfunction before the aircraft crashed onto an Alaska runway.
The January 28 crash at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks was recorded in a video that showed the jet spiralling toward the runway before bursting into flames. Meanwhile, the pilot was seen floating safely to the ground using a parachute.
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An Air Force investigation blamed the crash on ice in the hydraulic lines in the nose and main landing gears of the F-35, which prevented them from deploying properly, CNN reported.
After takeoff, the pilot tried to retract the landing gear but failed. When lowering it again, the nose gear locked at a left angle.
As the pilot attempted to fix the issue, the jet reacted as if it were on the ground. He then joined a call with five Lockheed Martin engineers while flying near the base, spending nearly an hour troubleshooting the problem.
The pilot attempted two “touch and go” landings to straighten the jammed nose gear, but both failed, freezing the landing gears entirely.
The aircraft then became “uncontrollable”, forcing the pilot to eject.
An Air Force inspection found that one-third of the hydraulic fluid in the nose and right main landing gears contained water.
The report concluded that “crew decision-making, including those on the in-flight conference call,” and insufficient “oversight for the hazardous material program” contributed to the incident.
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 programme has faced criticism for production shortcuts and high costs. The jet’s price dropped from roughly $135.8 million in 2021 to $81 million in 2024 under a preliminary deal with the US Department of Defence.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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