First ever crash for new F-35 fighter A Marine F-35B joint strike fighter has crashed close to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, South Carolina -- marking the first-ever crash of the costly stealth aircraft, which will become the main fighter aircraft for the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy. "A 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing F-35B belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort crashed in the vicinity of Beaufort, South Carolina at approximately 11:45 a.m. (EST), today," said a statement from the 2nd Marine Air Wing. "The U.S. Marine pilot safely ejected from the single-seat aircraft and is currently being evaluated by medical personnel," said the statmement. "There were no civilian injuries. Marines from MCAS Beaufort are working with local authorities currently conducting standard mishap operations to secure the crash site and ensure the safety of all personnel in the surrounding area." The cause of the investigation is under investigation. According to a military official the Marine F-35B was on a routine training mission and not attempting to land at the time of the crash. Earlier Capt. Bob Bromage, with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, also confirmed to ABC News that a Marine Corps aircraft had crashed in a rural part of Beaufort County. "The Marine Corps confirmed that it was one of theirs,” Bromage told ABC News. The crash in South Carolina marks the first-ever crash mishap for the advanced stealth fighter that will become the main fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The Pentagon plans to purchase more than 2,600 of the aircraft that have been tailored to the needs of the three services. For example, the Marine Corps version of the aircraft is able to take off and land vertically. On Thursday, a Marine F-35B fighter carried out the first combat airstrike by the American version of the costly fighter. The airstrike occurred in Afghanistan and involved a Marine F-35B "Lightning II" that had taken off from the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Essex, which was operating in the East Arabian Sea. Few details were released about the airstrike other than it was "in support of ground clearance operations." The airstrike a major milestone for the advanced stealth fighter, which is the costliest U.S. military fighter ever manufactured. Estimates have been that the overall cost of the program will be about $350 billion. On Friday, the Pentagon announced that the latest contract with the aircraft's maker Lockheed Martin had resulted in the lowest prices yet for the aircraft. The price for the Air Force version of the F-35 will go down to $89.2 million from $94.3 million. Marine F35-B will cost $115.5 million and the Navy F-35C will cost $107.7 million.<doc-sep>BEAUFORT, S.C. -- A military plane crashed in coastal South Carolina on Friday, authorities said. The Marine Corps said the pilot of the single-seat aircraft ejected safely. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said the crash was reported about 11:45 a.m. near the Grays Hill community. The plane was an F-35B. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that this marks the first crash of the U.S. military's newest and most expensive aircraft. On Thursday, the Marines announced the aircraft's first use in combat in Afghanistan. In a statement, Marine Corps Capt. Christopher Harrison said the pilot was being evaluated by medical personnel. No civilians were injured, Harrison said. The plane belonged to a Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501), stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, which is about 4 miles from the crash site. Authorities asked people to avoid the area. The cause of the crash was under investigation, Harrison said.<doc-sep>
(CNN) — A US Marine Corps F-35B crashed Friday in Beaufort County, South Carolina, near Marine Corp Air Station Beaufort, a US military official told CNN. The pilot ejected safely and is being evaluated for injury, according to the official. While the jet has experienced mishaps in the past, a US defense official told CNN that this is the first time an F-35 has crashed. The Marines confirmed the incident later on Friday in a statement, saying the “pilot safely ejected from the single-seat aircraft and is currently being evaluated by medical personnel. There were no civilian injuries,” The statement said that the jet belonged to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. “The cause of the crash is under investigation,” it added. The F-35B joint strike fighter conducted its first-ever airstrike on Thursday. The F-35 stealth jet has been called the most expensive weapons system in history, and its development was beset by multiple delays before it was deemed combat ready. Earlier on Friday the Pentagon announced a new contract for the next batch of F-35 aircraft, saying that the plane’s contractor, Lockheed Martin had agreed to a reduced price. The announced per-unit price tag for the Marine Corps F-35B was $115.5 million. The F-35B is the only version of the aircraft that is able to land vertically like a helicopter. It can also take off in a much shorter space than other fighter jets. The new contract means the price for the Air Force’s variant of the jet, the F-35A, fell below $90 million for the first time.