A US F-35B stealth fighter jet crashes near air base in California

The US Marine Corps reports an F-35B stealth fighter jet went down near the Miramar air base in San Diego, California, and sparked a fire on Friday.

The incident occurred at around 10am local time.

Footage from a new helicopter shows the charred aircraft shrouded in a plume of black smoke rising from a dirt field.

Multiple military personnel and firefighters were at the site responding to the crash.

A Marines statement calls the incident a "Class A mishap," the most severe mishap category of military and federal incidents when the damage totals over 2 million US dollars.

Officials say the pilot ejected before the crash and was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.