Pilot ejects safely from F-35 after failed landing gear deploy in Alaska

On January 28, a US Air Force F-35 crashed during a flight near Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska, due to a hydraulic issue with the landing gear. The investigation revealed significant icing in the hydraulic lines, which led to the landing gear malfunctioning. After takeoff, the pilot attempted to retract the landing gear, but it failed to deploy properly. After unsuccessful attempts at fixing the problem and engaging in a 50-minute conference call with engineers from Lockheed Martin, the pilot attempted two 'touch and go' landings to remedy the situation, but both failed. Ultimately, the aircraft's sensors falsely indicated it was on the ground, which triggered automated systems to put the F-35 in ground operation mode. This caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable while still airborne, prompting the pilot to eject safely before the jet crashed and exploded. An investigation found that the temperature at the time was -1 degree Fahrenheit, leading to ice forming in the hydraulic systems, which Lockheed Martin had previously warned could create difficulties in extreme conditions. The pilot suffered only minor injuries, but the $200 million aircraft was destroyed. The incident has raised questions about the F-35's performance in cold weather and the procedures followed for maintaining hydraulic systems, as similar issues were noted in another F-35 just days after the crash.