Posted on 05/29/2024 5:47:21 AM PDT by V_TWIN
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A military fighter jet on its way to an Air Force base in California crashed Tuesday near the international airport in New Mexico’s largest city, sending up a large plume of smoke and injuring the pilot.
The pilot, the only person on board, was able to escape after crashing around 2 p.m. on a hillside on the south side of Albuquerque’s airport and was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, according to the city’s fire department.
U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin identified the downed plane as an F-35 that left Fort Worth, Texas, earlier Tuesday and was headed to Edwards Air Force Base near Los Angeles. A spokesperson for Lockheed said in an email to The Associated Press that the fighter jet crashed after the pilot stopped to refuel at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.
Neither of the Air Force bases immediately responded to requests for more information.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Quality journalism is all but dead
If the reports are true, then the fuel wasn't technically contaminated, just the wrong fuel. Military Gasoline instead of JP-8 Jet Kerosene.
They should have stuck with upgraded versions of the F14 and F4!
The F-35 always has problems. Meanwhile the F-22 continues to dominate.
I worked at a Navy depot level facility when the F-14 went into sunset and was subsequently retired.....the guys I knew that worked that platform and were previously active duty F-14 maintainers were not happy about it being retired.....you’d of thought a family member died. 😏
I looked it up and it's about 1400 miles and I think the F-35 should be able to go that far without refueling. However, being just a casual transfer, the pilot may have wanted to stop in Albuquerque for other reasons.
I think the F35 advertises a 1200 mile range, without an external tank or in-flight refueling. If the transfer was 1400 miles, the typical pilot would find a refuel stop halfway between, leaving lots of reserve fuel for problems on either leg.
Thanks; that’s very helpful.
Yesterday it was identified as an F-35B. Given the quality of news casting, I don’t vouch for the accuracy.
It wasn’t there for long. I live on the east side of the Manzano Mountains, and the flight path to the airport is pretty much over my house. Yesterday at about 12:30 I heard a jet (non commercial) and it was this plane fairly low and not at speed going overhead. Kirtland doesn’t host many fighter craft since the Air Guard there was closed down, and they flew F-16’s.
This story is missing crucial information...
Gender?
Race?
DEI training level?
Experience?
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