British F35 jet fighter crashes into sea, pilot ejects safely

A British F35 fighter jet has crashed in the Mediterranean, the Ministry of Defence has reported.

The pilot ejected before the crash and has returned to the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The MoD says an investigation has begun.

An MoD spokesman said: “A British F35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth ejected during routine flying operations in the Mediterranean this morning.

“The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

To preserve its stealth shaping, the F-35 has two internal weapons bays with four weapons stations.

The two outboard weapon stations each can carry ordnance up to 2,500 lb (1,100 kg), or 1,500 lb (680 kg) for F-35B, while the two inboard stations carry air-to-air missiles.

Armament typically includes two air to air missiles, two bombs and a 25mm gun pod.

The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy both operate the F-35B, known simply as the Lightning in British service.

In October 2019, the Dambusters and No. 17 TES F-35s were embarked on HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time. No. 617 Squadron departed RAF Marham on 22 January 2020 for their first Exercise Red Flag with the Lightning

It has a top speed of Mach 1.6 - more than 1,200mph.

Each jet is reported to cost £190million.