Navy cleans up after F-35 plane crash near Albuquerque, New Mexico

Smoke from an accident involving a military aircraft near the Albuquerque International Solar Port, May 28, 2024. (KRQE)

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KRQE) – After an F-35 military jet crashed near the Albuquerque International Solar Port, the Navy is working to clean up the wreckage and assess environmental damage.

Authorities reported the accident on Tuesday, May 28. Only one pilot was on board and was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital. Clean-up is now underway at the crash site.

“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 crash,” said Air Force Col. Michael Power, 377th Air Wing. the air base and installation commander at Kirtland Air Force Base. A press release. “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.”

Since the accident, crews have worked to remove debris and remediate the site in accordance with environmental laws, the Navy said.

“As we remove debris from the crash area, we are sampling the soil and testing for the presence of contaminants that will guide our remediation of the area,” John Baxter, the federal on-scene coordinator, said in a news release. “Our goal is to return the property as close to its original condition as possible. »

The Navy says there is no estimated timeline for completing the cleanup work. The accident is also still under investigation.