US F-35 Fighter Jet Engulfed in Flames after Alaska Crash

The incident took place at approximately 12:49 p.m. local time, and the cause remains under investigation, base commander Col. Paul Townsend stated. The pilot, whose identity was not disclosed, was transported to Bassett Army Hospital and is in stable condition.

A widely circulated video of the crash shows the F-35 spiraling toward the ground before erupting into flames upon impact. A parachute, presumably belonging to the pilot, can be seen descending in the background. An Air Force spokesperson later confirmed the video's authenticity to CBS News.

“Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed to ensuring their safety and security,” Townsend said in a statement. “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.”

The US Air Force is replacing its aging fleet with F-35 fighter jets, which are also used by the Navy and Marine Corps, according to the Air Force's website. Each aircraft has an estimated cost of $100 million.

In a similar incident last year, an F-35 belonging to the Marine Corps flew for 11 minutes after the pilot ejected before crashing. Investigators later attributed that crash to pilot error.