Ankara: An F-35 fighter jet crashed in the US state of Alaska at Eielson Air Force Base, with the pilot reported safe. This incident has renewed attention on the safety standards of the F-35 aircraft, raising the tally to 11 crashes since 2018.

According to Anadolu Agency, data from the Aviation Safety Network indicates a troubling pattern of crashes involving the F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The aircraft's development began in 1995 under the Joint Strike Fighter program, with full-rate production commencing 26 years later. However, the first recorded crash occurred three years before this production started.

In May 2024, a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II crashed near Albuquerque, New Mexico, with the pilot suffering serious injuries after ejecting. This incident underscored ongoing safety concerns surrounding the aircraft. In September 2023, another crash occurred involving a US Marine Corps F-35 in South Carolina, where the pilot ejected after switching to autopilot mode.

Further incidents include an October 2022 crash in Utah due to air data system errors, and a January 2022 mishap on the USS Carl Vinson, attributed to pilot error. Additional accidents in South Korea, the Mediterranean Sea, California, Florida, Japan, and South Carolina have been documented, each highlighting various technical and human factors.

Reports by the US Director of Operational Test and Evaluation and the US Government Accountability Office have identified persistent issues with the F-35 fleet's reliability, maintainability, and mission readiness. The aircraft's operational suitability remains below expectations, and the cost to sustain the fleet has risen from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion in 2023. These challenges have prompted the US Department of Defense to revise flight plans, further emphasizing the aircraft's reliability concerns.