Ice and Hydraulic Issues Cause F-35 Crash in Alaska
A U.S. Air Force F-35A crashed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska due to ice buildup in the landing gear caused by water-contaminated hydraulic fluid, which led to faulty sensors and automated ground-operation mode, resulting in loss of control. The pilot ejected safely, and the incident highlights challenges of operating in cold environments and issues with aircraft maintenance and automation systems.