Military plane crashes near Albuquerque airport; pilot hospitalized

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (TND) — A military plane crashed and caught fire near an air base in New Mexico Tuesday afternoon.

The plane reportedly took off from Albuquerque International Solar Port and was headed to Edwards Air Force Base in southern California.

“A military aircraft has crashed off Sunport's south side airfield. One soul on board, pilot is conscious and is being transported,” ABQ Sunport wrote on social media.

According to authorities, the pilot was about to get off the plane and was the only one on board. Officials told WOAI they were seriously injured and taken to an area hospital.

A U.S. official told ABC News that it was a new F-35 and that a Defense Contract Management Agency pilot was flying the plane that was being transferred from a Lockheed Martin factory for refurbishment. service.

“The pilot ejected safely,” Lockheed Martin told ABC News in a statement. “Safety is our priority and we will follow appropriate investigation protocol.”

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller wrote on X that he was “grateful for the quick action of first responders.”

The investigation was handed over to Kirtland Air Force Base.

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Editor's note: WOAI contributed to this article.