Storyline
F-35 crash near San Diego August 2026
One page that accretes the verified record as the story develops. Every fact keeps its date and its sources.
1 DAYS
15 FACTS
1 EVENTS
1 SOURCES
FIRST ENTRY JUL 31
JUL 31 · Day 1
F-35 fighter jet crashes near San Diego Marine Corps base
An investigation into the 2024 crash found the pilot had acted improperly by ejecting.
The 2023 crash pilot was later identified as Maj. Andrew Mettler.
After the 2024 ejection, the plane continued to fly by itself for over 11 minutes, covering about 70 miles, before crashing and causing damage to some private land.