STORM2K

Fighter jet crashes in US desert

A state-of-the-art US air force F-22 fighter has crashed in the desert in southern California, the Pentagon says.

The fate of the pilot was not immediately known after the plane, which was on a test mission, came down near Edwards Air Force Base.

The US air force website lists the F-22 Raptor, which is made by Lockheed Martin, as its newest fighter.

The air force said the jet would have "better reliability and maintainability than any fighter aircraft in history".

The F-22 crashed at about 1000 local time (1700 GMT), officials said.

Rescue teams were reported to be on their way to the crash site.

The $140m (£96m), supersonic F-22 is a so-called fifth generation jet, and arguably the world's most sophisticated fighter.

The air force said the crash was the second involving an F-22.

"The first one was during the aircraft's test and evaluation period in December 2004 also at Edwards, during which the pilot ejected safely," a statement said.

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the pilot died.

IIRC there have been a few F-22 crashes lately. If I am correct, I wonder what is happening as I thought this was a tested and proven plane.

On the 21st, I attended the Luke AFB air show and witnessed the F22 in demonstration. It is an amazing plane. Any time you add more technology and the kinds of thrust and power that this plane has, there is little room for error on any front.

We'll see what we learn from the investigation.

Luke AFB is scheduled to be the home of the F22 Raptor.