Pilot survives crash of fighter jet at Hill Air Force Base

Oct 19, 2022, 6:54 PM | Updated: Oct 20, 2022, 11:36 am

An F-35 from the 388th crashed at the north end of the runway at Hill Air Force Base Wednesday evening. The pilot was able to eject. (Tyler Okelberry)

(Tyler Okelberry)

BY MARK JONES

Former Digital Content Producer

CLEARFIELD, Utah — A pilot has survived a crash of an F-35 from the 388th Fighter Wing at the north end of the runway at Hill Air Force Base Wednesday evening at 6:15 p.m.

According to a post on Twitter, the 388th Fighter Wing says the pilot has been recovered and taken to a medical center for a medical evaluation.

Emergency crews are responding to the base, along with fire crews dealing with a small grass fire it caused.

According to Utah Fire Info, the Stripe Fire, which was caused by the jet crash, grew to 8 to 10 acres in size. The fire has been suppressed by Weber County resources.

According to a witness, 13-year-old Mitt Nilson of South Weber, the aircraft went down in a field near the runway.

“I was just over in a field off South Weber Drive riding my dirt bike. And I heard this weird screeching noise,” Nilson told KSL NewsRadio. “I looked up thinking it was an animal or something, I look up to see the jet and it’s smoking, and it’s going down.”

The crash forced the closure of the West Gate to Hill Air Force Base. Motorists in the area are asked to avoid the area of South Weber Drive.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

Mark Jackson contributed to this article.

This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.

Follow @MarkJonesKSL