A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II crashed after the pilot ejected, following a collision with a Marine KC-130J Hercules tanker during refueling in a military operations area (MOA) near the Naval Air Facility El Centro in California. The KC-130J landed in a field near the Jacqueline Cochran Airport in Thermal (KTRM), with the eight crewmembers on board reportedly safe and accounted for.
Hercules Tanker and F-35 Crews Safe After Mid-Air During Refueling
Key Takeaways:
- A US Marine Corps F-35B crashed after colliding with a KC-130J tanker during air-to-air refueling near El Centro, California.
- The F-35B pilot successfully ejected, and all eight crew members aboard the damaged KC-130J landed safely following an emergency descent.
- The KC-130J sustained damage, including two engine outages and a fuel leak, and the official cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
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