Watch: F-35 fighter jet crashes in California, massive smoke and fire seen
U.S. Navy
F-35 fighter jet crashed near
Naval Air Station Lemoore
in central California on Wednesday evening, the Navy confirmed in a statement. The pilot ejected safely and no immediate injuries were reported.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. approximately 40 miles southwest of Fresno. The cause of the crash is under investigation, according to CNN.
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Video shows aftermath as authorities respond
Footage shared on
social media
from the site showed smoke rising from the wreckage and flames at the crash location. Emergency personnel were seen arriving at the scene.
The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VF-125, known as the 'Rough Raiders.' The squadron serves as a Fleet Replacement Squadron responsible for training pilots and aircrew on the F-35 platform, the Navy stated.
Naval Air Station Lemoore is the Navy's primary base for strike fighter aircraft operations on the West Coast and is a key site for preparing aviators for combat readiness.
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About the F-35 Lightning II
The
F-35 Lightning II
is a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Lockheed Martin. It is built for speed, agility, and enhanced situational awareness, allowing pilots to detect and respond to threats early. The aircraft comes in three variants tailored to different operational needs. The F-35C is designed for use on aircraft carriers and integrates stealth capabilities for sea-based missions. All variants feature advanced sensors, precision targeting systems, and high survivability in combat environments.
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
In Maharashtra port, ship waits to be sunk, start new life as artificial reef
AT THE Vijaydurg port, a natural harbour in Maharashtra's coastal Sindhudurg district, an 81-metre-long piece of naval history lies still against the blue of the Arabian Sea, awaiting its second innings. INS Guldar, a decommissioned Navy warship, will soon be deliberately sunk — or 'scuttled' — to breathe new life into its metal bones, transforming it into an artificial reef and an underwater tourist attraction. Though scuttled ships have been used to create artificial reefs elsewhere in the world, this is the first such attempt in India. 'The idea behind this project is to develop tourism in Sindhudurg. When the ship is submerged, it will gradually form an underwater reef that attracts various kinds of fish. Once that happens, people from all over the world, especially avid scuba divers, will come to the district,' says an official of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporat-ion (MTDC) who is associated with the project. Home to MTDC's Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports (IISDA), Sindhudurg, 120 km from Goa, has been a training centre for scuba diving enthusiasts for over a decade. Had all gone according to plan, INS Guldar would have been scuttled in April. Officials said its scuttling was postponed in view of tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. An official at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, the government-run firm responsible for the scuttling, said the process was delayed further due to the early arrival of monsoon in Maharashtra. 'Too much wind or rough seas can topple the ship, which means it won't go down as planned. We are waiting for a lull in the monsoon (to carry out the scuttling),' the official adds. The ageing INS Guldar, a Kumbhir-class landing ship designed for amphibious warfare and capable of beach landings, was once part of India's peacekeeping mission in Sri Lanka, combating attacks from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Tamil separatist group, across the beaches of Jaffna and Trincomalee in the island nation. The plan to acquire a ship for scuttling took off in December 2023, when the MTDC hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, then Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and then Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in Sindhudurg on the occasion of Navy Day. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who was then the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, was also in attendance. The MTDC is learnt to have asked Admiral Tripathi for a decommissioned ship as a 'token of gift' to the state tourism department so that it could be turned into an 'underwater museum and artificial reef' at Sindhudurg. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation hopes to transform INS Guldar into an underwater tourist attraction. Scuttling is usually a wartime tactic involving the deliberate sinking of a vessel — in case of an emergency or to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. On November 26, 2024, the Union Finance Ministry green-lit the project, followed by a nod from the Maharashtra government on December 19, 2024. On February 21, 2025, the Navy handed over INS Guldar to the MTDC on an 'as is where is' basis at Karwar in Karnataka. Built at Poland's Gdynia Shipyard, INS Guldar was commissioned into the Indian Navy nearly four decades ago, in 1985. It was first based in Visakhapatnam, where it was used for amphibious warfare, transferring troops and equipment and for disaster relief operations. In 1995, it joined the Andaman and Nicobar command, where it served until its decommissioning on January 12, 2024, according to a statement by the Navy. The underwater museum-cum-artificial reef project is estimated to cost Rs 78 crore. The Centre will bear nearly 60% of the total cost and the state government the rest, said an MTDC official. According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) accessed by The Indian Express, the Sindhudurg site will have a carrying capacity of 2,773 divers daily, spread over six diving sessions in an eight-hour operational period. The MTDC expects at least 71,000 tourists to visit the site in the first year, with the figure projected to go up to 1.10 lakh within a decade. Talking about the underwater museum-cum-artificial reef project, an official said every ship has a scuttling plan that the captain follows to deliberately sink the ship – usually 'in case of an emergency or to prevent it from falling into enemy hands'. The process of scuttling, he said, follows the Archimedes principle, which states that the buoyant force keeping an object afloat is equal to the weight of the water the object displaces. Simply put, for a ship to sink, it must be filled with water to achieve negative buoyancy. 'To achieve that, the ship's sea chest (a compartment built into the hull below the waterline) will be opened to flood the engine room. The front section will also be flooded simultaneously in a controlled manner,' the official says, adding that the process will take up to 10 hours. According to the DPR, the ship, which has been stripped of all pollutants that may harm marine life, will be sunk to a depth of nearly 30 metres. Once submerged, INS Guldar, which has a flat bottom, will simply sit on the seabed, around 3 km from existing scuba diving sites near Malvan and Tarkali beaches or around 15 km off the coast of Sindhudurg, near the Vengurla Rocks in the Arabian Sea. The DPR states that non-certified divers who have completed pool training will be allowed to dive down to a depth of 12 metres; certified divers up to 18 metres, which will give them access to the middle parts of the ship; and advanced divers to the deepest part of the ship, including the hull and the seabed. For non-divers, the MTDC plans to acquire a 24-seater submarine, offering tourists a 20-minute panoramic underwater view of the shipwreck. To enhance employment prospects in Sindhudurg, the MTDC plans to train locals in scuba diving, boat handling and as tourist guides. If successful, this could become India's first operational submarine tourism experience. Gujarat had announced a similar project at the Bet Dwarka island in 2023. While the scuba diving plan is expected to take off as soon as the ship is scuttled, experts say it could take a year or more for a reef to 'fully establish and function as essential habitat'. Alex Fogg, Natural Resources Chief of Florida's Okaloosa County in the United States, says that while fish appear 'almost immediately', the formation of an artificial reef is dependent on a number of factors – from the size of the vessel to the depth at which it is sunk, and its proximity to another reef. 'Larger, more complex vessels in shallower waters tend to establish more quickly,' Fogg explains. 'That's not to say smaller or deeper reefs aren't beneficial, they are just a different community.' Okaloosa County deployed its first artificial reef off Destin-Fort Walton Beach in 1976. Today, it hosts over 500 artificial reefs created from concrete structures, old bridge materials, military equipment, and decommissioned vessels. Marine biologist Vardhan Patankar too says that while the sunken ship could still make for a good scuba diving site since 'it will attract fish and a variety of associated invertebrates', whether it will be a viable reef with diverse composition is debatable. He says, 'An artificial reef is created when free-flowing larvae from a parent reef find another hard substratum (a layer of something, like rock or soil, below another layer). When that happens, they settle and thrive.' Patankar explains, 'Larvae can stay alive for a day and usually settle where their parents are. So, they are not going to come all the way from Angria Bank (a natural reef over 100 km away from Sindhudurg) to this site. They will most likely come from Sindhudurg, where the species composition is low.' Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
News18
16 hours ago
- News18
'Vetiver Grass Ideal For Himalayas': Environmentalist Proposes Solution To Mitigate Landslides
VC Shreeram Nath said Himachal Pradesh has already taken proactive steps in this direction, adding Uttarakhand must too. In the wake of the devastating cloudburst and mudslide in Uttarkashi on August 5, which led to widespread destruction and loss of life, environmental experts are urging state governments to adopt long-term, nature-based solutions for disaster mitigation. One such advocate is VC Shreeram Nath, Founder and Secretary of the Rameswaram VETIVER & Environmental Foundation, who spoke to CNN-News18 about the critical role Vetiver grass can play in stabilising fragile mountain ecosystems. 'Vetiver grass is highly effective for soil stabilisation and erosion control, especially in the Himalayan regions where landslides and flash floods are becoming more frequent and deadly," said Nath. He pointed out that Himachal Pradesh has already taken proactive steps in this direction. Pilot projects in districts like Kullu, Mandi, and Kangra have shown a remarkable 60 per cent reduction in soil erosion, providing a proof of concept that could be replicated across other Himalayan states, including Uttarakhand, he said. What is Vetiver Grass? Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is known for its unique root system, which grows vertically up to 3–4 metres deep, anchoring the soil firmly and reducing the risk of landslides. Its ability to trap sediment and slow down water runoff makes it particularly useful in flash flood-prone regions. 'By acting as a natural barrier, it not only protects riverbanks and highways but also reduces the speed and volume of water during heavy rains," Nath explained. What sets Vetiver apart is its resilience. Nath explained how it thrives in poor, rocky soils and extreme weather conditions — characteristics common in the Himalayan terrain. The grass has already been successfully used in other regions to reinforce road cuttings, buffer landslide-prone slopes, and even rehabilitate degraded landscapes. Moreover, its low cost and minimal maintenance needs make it a highly scalable and climate-resilient solution. As Uttarakhand reels from yet another natural disaster, Nath emphasised the urgency of integrating such ecological approaches into the region's disaster management and infrastructure planning. 'Vetiver isn't just a plant — it's a strategy," he said. 'It offers a practical, affordable, and sustainable way to protect lives and livelihoods in the mountains." With climate change intensifying the frequency of extreme weather events, experts like Nath believe that embracing nature-based solutions such as Vetiver grass could be key to building long-term resilience in India's vulnerable hill states. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
17 hours ago
- News18
Delhi T1 Canopy Collapse: DGCA Expert Panel Blames ‘Poor Workmanship', DIAL Refutes Findings
Delhi T1 Canopy Collapse: The report, that was not made public, has been accessed by CNN-News18, and has made startling revelations related to the construction of the canopy A report submitted by a committee set up by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to carry out technical assessment of the collapse of canopy roof at Terminal One of the Delhi International Airport last year has highlighted discrepancies in the fabrication work, calling it 'poor workmanship". The operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), however, claimed that 'neither the design, the fabrication, nor the workmanship is inferior". The incident took place at Terminal 1D of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on June 28, 2024, killing one taxi driver and leaving others injured. What does the report say on the canopy collapse? The report, that was not made public, has been accessed by CNN-News18, and has made startling revelations related to the construction of the canopy. The report clearly mentions that the purlin drawings did not match with site conditions. In addition, the fabrication shows poor workmanship in a few places, the document reads. It further says, 'during inspection, it was observed that the welding, connection detailing, etc., appear to be of inferior workmanship at some locations…the structural members concealed between the roof and the false ceiling didn't have fireproof paint or anti-corrosion measures in the collapsed portion of the structure," it reads. Further, the findings reveal that the location of purlin joints lies very close to the supports where hogging bending stresses are maximum. 'It is an undesirable location for the splices and should have been avoided," the experts mentioned. DIAL's strong response to the findings It said in a response that fire protection coatings are not required for internal roofs above 6.7m in height. 'NFPA clause 7.2.3.2.8 also states that any roof more than 6.1 m in height does not require fire protection. The Old Terminal 1D Canopy was over this 6.7 m height and was external. Accordingly, fire protection was not required. All the members were adequately coated either with vermiculite coating, anti-corrosive metal primer, or a paint that acts as a protective coating for rust prevention," DIAL said. It added that to overcome the space constraints and to establish a viable connection, the horizontal tie member was lowered within the proximity of the joint location and connected to the flaring columns. 'The design effects due to lowering of the horizontal tie were duly accounted for in the connection design and detailing of the horizontal tie member, and thereby the structural adequacy and integrity of the joints were ensured. The changes made were safe and vetted by the structural consultants and TATA Consulting Engineers," the airport operator claimed. It further added that the assumption that the detailing and design of connections, particularly welding connections, have not been carried out adequately and were left to fabricators is incorrect. 'The detailing and design of connections, particularly welding connections, have been carried out by a specialist steel agency (Geodesic Techniques) with ISO 9001 certification, with decades of experience in the design and detailing of complex steel structures. The design of connections, including the weld in the fin, was based on the prevalent IS 1893-2002 and IS 800-1984, and in line with proper design practices," DIAL said, adding they have done the testing of the collapsed structure through an NABL-accredited laboratory and the test results do not suggest any inferior workmanship and show weld quality was satisfactory. Test reports were made available to the concerned, it said. Expert panel's recommendations & DIAL's reaction In addition to its findings on the collapsed structure, the report by the experts' committee had further made recommendations for the non-collapsed roof structure. It said that a thorough inspection and investigation by a specialized agency is recommended. In particular, all connections, welding, etc. shall be checked thoroughly. The structural design and detailing are required to be checked thoroughly, it said. The committee has also suggested that all connections and components essential for the load transfer mechanism should be looked into and retrofitted by the specialized agency, if required. Drainage design shall be investigated for adequacy/inadequacy. Necessary modifications for example provision of suction devices in the drain, overflow mechanism, perforated false ceiling near drains, etc. may be required to remove the water stagnation in case of incessant rain events, it added. Reacting to these recommendations, DIAL said it appointed CORTEX Construction Solutions, a NABL-accredited agency that conducted several non-destructive tests on the non-collapsed structure of Old Terminal 1D, including on all weld joints. The test results and the recommendations were validated by IIT BHU, it claimed. top videos View all The airport operator further added, 'L&T was entrusted with the T1 reinstatement and retrofitting works, duly considering the IIT recommendations." All the design calculations and design drawings, prepared by L&T in accordance with the current code provisions, were thoroughly checked and approved by a team of three professors from IIT Delhi & IIT Jammu and are being implemented at the site, it said. About the Author Anvit Srivastava Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited journalists More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : news18 specials view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 06, 2025, 13:46 IST News india Delhi T1 Canopy Collapse: DGCA Expert Panel Blames 'Poor Workmanship', DIAL Refutes Findings Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
