A military pilot was taken to the hospital following the crash of a fighter jet near Albuquerque International Airport in New Mexico on Tuesday, as reported by CBS News. The pilot sustained severe injuries after an F-35 fighter jet went down shortly after taking off from Albuquerque en route to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. The aircraft, a developmental model provided by Lockheed Martin, crashed just south of the airport before 2 p.m., as confirmed by Albuquerque Fire Rescue.
BREAKING: A military aircraft has crashed off of the airfield on the southside of the Sunport. One soul aboard, pilot is conscious and being transported. Flight operations have resumed, but check with your airline for flight status. Media stage at Kevothermal along University.
— ABQ Sunport (@ABQSunport) May 28, 2024
Lieutenant Jason Fejer, a representative of the fire department, mentioned in a video shared online that the pilot, the sole individual on board, managed to escape the plane and was promptly transported to a nearby hospital due to severe injuries. Despite being conscious, the severity of the injuries is still a cause for worry.
The incident occurred on the southern part of the Sunport, triggering a swift reaction from various emergency services, as stated by Fejer. He also noted that two civilians were assessed on-site but did not require hospital care. Aerial footage captured by KOB-TV depicted firefighters extinguishing the flames that had engulfed the wreckage of the aircraft. This well-coordinated response prevented any further harm or destruction.
Albuquerque’s Democratic Mayor Tim Keller commended the prompt actions of the first responders and expressed his sympathy for the injured pilot.
https://x.com/zarrar_11PK/status/1795757107993874814
