A United States Air Force pilot was said to be safe after an F-35 single-seat fighter jet crashed on the runway at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, the Associated Press reported.
Unverified video footage circulating on social media shows the jet crashing, with the pilot safely descending to the ground with an open parachute. "It's still under investigation, so they’re trying to confirm all the details," Eielson spokesperson Staff Sergeant Kimberly Touchet told the news agency. "The pilot is safe and has been transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further evaluation," the Air Force said in a statement, adding that an "incident" caused significant damage to the aircraft.
"I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again," Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, said in the statement.
