F-35C Crashes At Naval Air Station Lemoore (Updated)

Details are very limited at this time, but what we know is that a fighter was involved in a major mishap near NAS Lemoore in California. The installation is the Navy’s master strike fighter base on the West Coast and is home to F-35C and F/A-18E/F tactical jets.

The crash occurred this evening, with emergency response units converging at the scene. Emergency logs and local media affiliates suggest the aircraft was an F-35, but we are trying to confirm that with the Navy and the installation (this has been confirmed, see update at the bottom of this post).

A F-35C crashed at Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California today. The aviator ejected safely. – ABC News pic.twitter.com/8XUChWm2HV
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) July 31, 2025

🚨#BREAKING: emergency officials are on the scene after a United States military f-35 jet has crash and burst into flames

📌#Fresno | #California

At this time military officials and emergency crews are currently on scene at Lemoore Naval Air Station in Fresno County,… pic.twitter.com/XCRg0BUv2y
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 31, 2025

BREAKING #Lemoore / #California

Reports from CHP that an F35 jet has “crashed” or landed near NAS Lemoore and is engulfed in flames. Civilian and military first responders are en route

S Dickenson Ave / W Cadillac Ave In Lemoore@Aviation_Intel @thenewarea51 @aviationbrk pic.twitter.com/xMji7GO5Vf
— OC Scanner 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 (@OC_Scanner) July 31, 2025

F-35 Naval Aircraft Down in Kings County. From Lemoore Naval Air Station 🙏 pic.twitter.com/GOefbmIYcz
— AEI-Equipment (@AeiFire) July 31, 2025

The approximate location of the crash was reported by emergency services as being at the point below:

We will update this post with more information when it becomes available.

UPDATE:

We have a statement from NAS Lemoore confirming that an F-35C was involved and the pilot is safe. VFA-125 is the F-35C training squadron on the West Coast. Full statement:

“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.”

Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com