Frozen hydraulics blamed for Alaska F-35 crash, yet Lockheed Martin’s stealth fighter is still among the safest ever built
August 28, 2025
A new report has blamed contaminated hydraulic fluid for the crash of a US Air Force F-35A in Alaska earlier this year. Despite two accidents involving the type in 2025, the Lockheed Martin stealth fighter continues to post one of the best safety records of any modern combat jet.
Hydraulic fluid blamed for Alaska F-35A crash
Investigators found the mishap on 28 January at Eielson Air Force Base was caused by water contamination in the jet’s hydraulic fluid. Samples showed the fluid contained around one-third water, enough to freeze in the sub-zero Alaska conditions.
The ice caused the nose landing gear strut to jam 17 degrees off-centre, preventing full extension. Sensors in the avionics misinterpreted the gear’s position, creating false signals that the aircraft had landed while still airborne.
The pilot remained airborne for nearly 50 minutes, attempted two touch-and-goes, and consulted Lockheed Martin engineers, but was unable to land safely.
F-35 mishap at Eielson AFB, AK.
— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) January 29, 2025
Pilot appears to have ejected. https://t.co/7LpsoyJGKF pic.twitter.com/lNWIgqkVHV
The report states that the nose landing gear did not retract properly due to hydraulic fluid contaminated with water that had frozen. This prevented the full strut extension and resulted in the nose landing gear being canted to the left.
The pilot was able to eject safely with only minor injuries. Meanwhile, the stricken aircraft crashed, engulfed in a fireball.
The F-35 fighter jet has a great safety record
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is arguably the world’s most high-profile fighter jet. Consequently, when something happens, like a crash, it is widely reported. The jet has had two crashes so far in 2025.
Even so, the crash rate of the F-35 is remarkably low for a new aircraft. The F-35 has a massive production run, and more F-35s are expected to be delivered in 2025 than all the world’s other frontline fighter jets combined, excluding China.
Around 12 F-35s are known to have been lost, which is just 1% of the over 1,200 jets delivered. According to Aviation Safety Network, only one pilot has died in these incidents.
| Aircraft type | Deliveries | Known losses | Approx. loss rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-35 Lightning II | 1,200+ | ~12 | ~1% |
| F-22 Raptor | 195 | 5 | ~2.5% |
| Dassault Rafale | ~300 | 7 | ~2.3% |
| Eurofighter Typhoon | ~600 | 11 | ~1.8% |
| Sukhoi Su-57 | 20–25 | 2 | ~8% |
| F-104 Starfighter (1960s–80s) | 916 | 292 | ~32% |
| Indian MiG-21s | 874 | 490 | ~56% |
The confirmation bias is so acute that many fighter jet crashes of other models are never reported.
Sometimes, the only public record is when Martin-Baker reports its ejection seat saved another pilot’s life on a social media post. One example is when a Pakistani JF-21 Thunder jet crashed in June 2024.
On Wednesday 5th June, a Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Block 2 aircraft crashed near the Jhang district. The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker PK16LE Seat.#MartinBaker #EngineeringForLife pic.twitter.com/8gIkX3ZihE
— Martin-Baker (@MB_EjectEject) June 11, 2024
Crash rates of other fighter jets
It may be a bit unfair to compare the F-35 with the F-22 Raptor, as the latter has been in service for longer than the former. With that in mind, five of the 195 twin-engined Raptors have been lost to accidents, including a prototype. That is a rate of around 2.5%.
According to the Aviation Safety Network, seven French Rafales have been lost to accidents, excluding the Indian Rafale seemingly shot down by Pakistan in May 2025. Only around 300 Rafales have been delivered. Eleven Eurofighter Typhoons of the over 600 built have reportedly been written off due to accidents.
Two Russian Su-57s are known to have been lost (including the prototype, the T-50-5) out of an anaemic production run of 20-25 jets. That is a loss rate of around 8%. Chinese crashes are rarely reported.
Broadening the comparison to include Cold War-era fighter jets, all modern jets start to look exemplary. Of the 916 Lockheed F-104 Starfighters produced, a total of 292 were lost in accidents between 1961 and 1989, claiming the lives of 116 pilots.
A Russian Air Force Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Stavropol Krai. Russian officials say the crew ejected. https://t.co/tgt9VtqQRPhttps://t.co/EgwVMZvII3https://t.co/6hNlgIQBjEhttps://t.co/lqJyJIZbu7 pic.twitter.com/m27h2vWnx1
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 19, 2024
Reporting that the last Indian MiG-21s were retired in August 2025, The Times of India said, “As of 2025, over 490 MiG-21s were involved in accidents or crashes, killing over 170 pilots and 50 civilians.” India accepted a total of 874 MiG-21s into service. Both the F-104 and Indian MiG-21 were known as the “Widowmaker.”
