F-22 fighter jet crashes near Highway 98 in Florida

Panama City, FL, United States (4E) – A fighter jet crashed Thursday afternoon near Florida’s Tyndall Air Force Base, the pilot was able to eject safely but a section of the highway was shut down.

According to authorities, the F22 fighter jet slammed in an area adjacent to Highway 98, south of Panama City, where a part of the road remained closed as responders arrived.

No injuries were reported on the ground

The unidentified pilot was treated by medical personnel at the base.

Officials said the single-seat stealth fighter plane went down in a wooded area near the road.

The cause of the crash is unclear, but there have been issues with the F22 for several years.

Pilots started reporting problems in 2008, including experiences of dizziness or fainting spells when operating the plane, but the exact cause of the problem have not been identified.

The fleet was grounded for four months in 2011 and new restrictions were enforced in May after two F-22 pilots expressed their doubts about the plane on CBS’ 60 Minutes program.

---

---