A Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet went down Friday morning near a San Diego military installation, marking the latest in a series of high-profile aviation incidents involving US aircraft. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a medical facility, though officials have not confirmed the extent of any injuries. Main Developments The crash occurred at approximately 10:00 am local time (1700 GMT) in the vicinity of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, according to a base spokesman. Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene, and social media footage showed a plume of smoke rising from the wreckage as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. The pilot was recovered and taken to a medical facility for evaluation. The spokesman declined to say whether the pilot or anyone else had been injured, adding that the US military would release further details at a later time. Read also: Pakistan's Energy Fixes Need Coordinated Reforms, New Reports Say Background MCAS Miramar holds a storied place in American military history as the former home of the US Navy's elite "Top Gun" fighter pilot school, immortalized in the 1986 film starring Tom Cruise. The F-35B, a short-takeoff and vertical-landing variant used by the Marine Corps, has faced scrutiny over its operational record. This incident follows another recent crash in California, when a US B-52 bomber went down near an Air Force base, underscoring ongoing concerns about military aviation safety. Why It Matters Each F-35 crash raises questions about the reliability of the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program, which has faced cost overruns and technical challenges. The incident also highlights the risks faced by pilots during routine training missions, even at well-established bases like Miramar. What's Next Military investigators will likely examine the cause of the mishap, including possible mechanical failure or pilot error. The base spokesman indicated that additional updates would be provided once more information becomes available.