A cutting-edge US Navy F-35C fighter jet crashed in a fiery accident near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California on Wednesday evening, triggering an urgent investigation into the cause. The pilot ejected safely just seconds before the aircraft slammed into the ground and exploded.

The incident took place around 6:30 PM local time, and although the pilot was medically evaluated, no serious injuries were reported. The jet caught fire immediately after the crash, but emergency crews arrived swiftly to secure the site and contain the blaze.

The downed aircraft was part of Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the "Rough Raiders", a unit responsible for training Navy pilots and preparing them for frontline deployment. Based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, the squadron operates advanced aircraft for carrier-based missions. The base itself is a major tactical hub for US Navy air power, located about 40 miles southwest of Fresno.

The F-35C variant is specifically built for carrier-based operations and features larger wings and reinforced landing gear for catapult launches and arrested recoveries. It is one of the three variants in the F-35 Lightning II family, which includes the F-35A (Air Force) and F-35B (Marine Corps).

Though the exact cause remains unknown, Navy officials have launched a full investigation into the incident. This crash marks the second F-35 accident this year. The previous one occurred in January, when an F-35A crashed during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.

Each F-35C jet carries a staggering price tag of nearly $100 million, making any crash both a strategic and financial blow. However, Navy officials reassured the public that pilot safety protocols and ejection systems worked as intended in this case.