Nevada F-35 jet crash: What happened at Nellis Air Force Base today? First details on pilot emerge

A US Army F-15 crashed at Nellis AFB, Nevada. After initial search, the pilot was found safe with minor injuries, base officials confirmed.

Updated on: Apr 01, 2026 3:32 AM IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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A F-15 fighter jet of the US Army crashed at the Nellis US Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada on Wednesday. After initially saying that the US Army is searching for the pilot, the base now reports that the pilot has been found safe with minor injuries.

An F-35 fighter jet flies over Evenes air base. (Representational) (REUTERS)

The base released a statement saying that the pilot ejected safely from the jet as it crashed. However, the US Army has not been able to locate the pilot and are searching near the location.

The statement read: "An F-35 from Nellis AFB crashed north of Las Vegas today. The incident occurred approximately 25 miles northeast of Indian Springs, Nevada."

"Emergency responders are on-scene and there is no impact to populated areas. The pilot is safe and being treated for minor injuries," it added.

What Happened At The Nellis Air Force Base Today?

At around 5pm ET, reports started coming in from the Air Force base that a possible crash sparked an emergency response at the base, though the details of the incident were not clear initially.

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Later, the base provided an update on social media confirming that an F-35 fighter jet crashed and the emergency personnel and US Army officials were looking for the pilot. It was reported by KSNV News 3 that the F-15 jet was experiencing issues with maneuvering earlier on Tuesday. But the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

In a follow-up update at 5:42pm ET, the Nellis Air Force Base confirmed that they have found the pilot safe with minor injuries.

KSNV News 3 reported that the aircraft was lost before it was found crashed near the Indiana Springs region. The F-35 was based out of the Nellis Air Force Base under the 57th Wing. The base is used by F-15 pilots for weapons testing and other training exercises.

Nellis Air Force Base is located about 8 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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