(Scypre.com) – A serious accident occurred Tuesday afternoon when a military aircraft crashed near Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico. Authorities confirmed the incident involved a developmental model of the F-35 fighter jet, which was being delivered by Lockheed Martin.
The aircraft had just departed from Albuquerque and was headed to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
Lt. Jason Fejer, spokesperson for Albuquerque Fire Rescue, reported in a social media video that multiple agencies responded to the crash shortly before 2 p.m. local time. The plane went down near the airfield on the south side of the Sunport.
The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was conscious and transported to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. Fejer mentioned that the pilot was able to exit the plane on his own before being hospitalized. It remains unclear whether the pilot was a service member or a civilian.
Two civilians present at the scene were evaluated but did not require hospital transport, according to Fejer.
Aerial footage from KOB-TV showed local firefighters working to extinguish the wreckage. Fire crews managed to put out the blaze swiftly, Fejer noted.
“Grateful for the rapid action of the first responders who arrived at the scene. Praying for the pilot,” Albuquerque’s Mayor Tim Keller expressed on social media.