A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter assigned to Nellis Air Force Base crashed March 31 within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), a 5,000-square-mile restricted airspace complex north of Las Vegas, after the pilot reported trouble maneuvering the aircraft around noon local time.
The pilot ejected and was recovered safely. The 57th Wing, which oversees Nellis AFB and commands the range complex, confirmed the pilot is being treated for minor injuries and that emergency responders reached the scene. The aircraft was destroyed.
On March 31st 2026, a United States Air Force F-35A Lightning II crashed during a routine training mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Nellis AFB.
The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker US16E Ejection Seat.#engineeringforlife pic.twitter.com/6uIBTuBwgw
— Martin-Baker (@MB_EjectEject) April 1, 2026
“Emergency responders are on-scene and there is no impact to populated areas,” the 57th Wing said in a statement. “The pilot is safe and being treated for minor injuries. The safety of our personnel and the community remain our top priority.”
UPDATE: Nellis Air Force Base tells News 3 the pilot is safe, having reported minor injuries. An F-35 from Nellis AFB crashed north of Las Vegas, and emergency responders are on scene.https://t.co/KNlxePnBRm
— KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV) March 31, 2026
The crash occurred approximately 25 miles northeast of Indian Springs, Nevada, within federal property. Air Force officials said no cause has been determined and the incident remains under investigation.
🚨 F-35 DOWN! FIGHTER JET CRASHES. 🇺🇸
AN F-35A LIGHTNING II CRASHED 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF INDIAN SPRINGS, NEVADA, WITHIN THE NTTR ON MARCH 31, 2026. THE PILOT EJECTED SAFELY & RECEIVED TREATMENT. ⚠️#F35 #Aviation
— OSN – Observer Security Network (@OSN_Reports) April 1, 2026
The NTTR supports major exercises including Red Flag and serves as the Air Force’s primary venue for aggressor training and tactics development. F-35As permanently assigned to Nellis perform those roles, as well as weapons testing.
The Nellis crash is the second F-35A loss at a U.S. training base in 14 months, following a January 2025 crash at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. While the Nellis pilot experienced trouble during maneuvering, the Eielson incident involved landing-phase flight control issues.
The pattern comes as F-35 availability remains a documented concern. The U.S. Department of Defense’s 2024 director of operational test and evaluation report found the fleet available for operations only 51% of the time, against a service goal of 65%.
The report concluded “the operational suitability of the F-35 fleet remains below service expectations and requirements.”
As of writing, the cause of the March 31 crash has not been confirmed.
