ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – After a military F-35 jet crashed near the Albuquerque International Sunport, the Navy is working to cleanup the wreckage and assess environmental damage.
Officials reported the crash on Tuesday, May 28. Only one pilot was on board and was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital. Now, cleanup is underway at the crash site.
“The last eight days has seen Team Kirtland come together to support the pilot and community as a result of the recent F-35 crash,” Air Force Col. Michael Power, 377th Air Base Wing and Kirtland Air Force Base installation commander, said in a press release. “The 377th Air Base Wing, 58th and 150th Special Operations Wings, as well as first responders of Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque, and so many more came together to provide immeasurable support during this incident."
Since the crash, crews have been working to remove debris and remediate the site in accordance with environmental laws, the Navy says.
“As we remove debris from the mishap area, we are sampling soil and testing for contaminants that will guide our remediation of the area,” John Baxter, the federal on-scene coordinator, said in a press release. “Our goal is to return the property as close to its original condition as we can.”
The Navy says there is no estimated timeline for the completion of the cleanup work. The crash is also still under investigation.