US Navy F-35 fighter jet crashes near Lemoore Air Station in California

A US Navy F-35C fighter jet crashed near the Leemore Air Station in Kings County, California, on Wednesday. "The pilot successfully ejected and is safe. There are no additional affected personnel," a statement from NAS Lemoore said. No further details on the crash were provided.

A request for comment outside of regular business hours was not immediately answered by F-35 fighter jet manufacturer and U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

According to the US Naval Academy, the F-35C Lightning II is the only fifth-generation aircraft in the world.

No further details on the crash were provided. The cause of the crash is under investigation, the statement said.

Video from the accident site show thick black smoke billowing from the burning debris.

According to CNN report, the aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the 'Rough Raiders,' the Navy said. VF-125 is a Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training pilots and aircrew.

What is F-35 fighter Jet?

With a single engine and one seat, the F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. It is designed for a range of missions, such as intelligence collection, electronic warfare, ground strikes, and air superiority.

The F-35C, a version of the F-35 Lightning II designed especially for use on US aircraft carriers, was the aircraft that crashed, according to a CNN report. The Marine Corps employs the F-35B, which can make vertical landings and short takeoffs, while the U.S. Air Force operates the F-35A.