In May 2024, a pilot in New Mexico was seriously injured after he ejected from an F-35 before it crashed near an airfield in Albuquerque. In September 2023, a pilot ejected from an F-35 and parachuted into a backyard in Charleston, South Carolina. The jet flew unmanned for several minutes before it crashed into a field about 60 miles away.

A pilot is safe after ejecting from an F-35C near Naval Air Station Lemoore Wednesday, the naval base announced Wednesday. The F-35C, attached to the “Rough Raiders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125,

“NAS Lemoore can confirm an aviation incident on the Operations side of the installation. At 1830, an F-35C attached to the VFA-125 ‘Rough Raiders’ went down not far from NAS Lemoore. NAS Lemoore can confirm the pilot successfully ejected and is safe. There are no additional affected personnel. The cause of the incident is under investigation.”