DVIDS – News – F35B fighter jet crashes near Albuquerque International Solar Port

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico — An F-35B aircraft was involved in an accident southwest of Kirtland at 1:48 p.m. May 28, 2024.

The U.S. Air Force pilot carrying the plane took off that morning from the Lockheed Martin facility at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, and landed in Kirtland at 1 p.m. full. Shortly after takeoff for Edwards Air Force Base, California, the plane crashed on University Blvd SE, just north of Rio Bravo Blvd SE, where it was consumed by fire.

The pilot, assigned to the Defense Contract Management Agency, successfully ejected at low altitude from the aircraft before the crash. He was triaged at the scene and transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries. He remains in serious but stable condition.

Bernalillo County firefighters were the first to arrive on scene and began search and rescue of the pilot as well as fire suppression measures to extinguish the fire from the immediate aircraft and surrounding landscape. They were quickly joined by Battalion One Albuquerque Fire and Rescue and the Kirtland AFB Fire Department. Emergency services secured the scene and ensured the safety of the area.

A resilient team immediately emerged as military agencies, municipal agencies and the local community rallied together. The coordination and rapid response demonstrated the strength and collaboration between the county, city and installation sectors. Together, they established a command center, rescued the pilot, quickly brought the fire under control and secured the scene.

The Kirtland Partnership Committee worked closely with the pilot's family to create a sense of community and comfort during this difficult time, offering support and providing a package of care during their stay. “As a community, we are grateful to have such a capable and well-trained team in New Mexico to navigate these events,” said Megan DeLaRosa, director of the Kirtland Partnership Committee.

One thing is clear: training and teamwork pay off. Everyone knew their role and came together seamlessly for this mission. Col. Michael Power, 377th Air Base Wing and Kirtland Air Force Base installation commander, noted the incredible interagency teamwork and immediate response to the accident.

“Over the past eight days, Team Kirtland has come together to support the pilot and the community in the wake of the recent F-35 accident,” Power said. “The 377th Air Base Wing, 58th and 150th Special Operations Wings, along with first responders from Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque and many others came together to provide immeasurable support during this incident.”

The Naval Region Southeast On-Scene Coordinator Program, whose mission is to provide emergency response and consequence management services for all United States Navy and Marine Corps incidents likely to impact the environment or public health, arrived from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, on June 1. They immediately began working on the recovery and removal of the plane wreckage. The program is also responsible for ensuring that any restoration of the area complies with environmental laws.

“The leadership and team at Kirtland Air Force Base have done an excellent job stabilizing the site and preparing to receive our team,” said John Baxter, federal on-site coordinator. “Once we assumed command, we continued to work closely with installation leadership, stakeholders and investigators to clear debris and minimize additional disruption to the local community. »

A Navy team was assigned to clean up the site. Cleaning and moving the plane is expected to take days, not weeks. Local officials are working with the City of Albuquerque and the Office of Emergency Management to mitigate traffic disruptions on roadways near the crash site.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation and is being reviewed by a Navy-led interim Air Force safety board, the NTSB.