Fighter Jet, Refueling Tanker Collide Midair Above Thermal Near Salton Sea

A fighter jet pilot was forced to eject from his cockpit during a midair fueling operation Tuesday in the sky over Thermal, near the Salton Sea, the United States Marine Corps confirmed.

A Marine Corps Air Station Yuma spokesperson said a F-35B fighter jet made contact with a KC-130J during an air-to-air refueling operation at around 4 p.m., resulting in the crash of the F-35B.

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 conduct flight operations aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug 18, 2020.

A spokesperson for Cal Fire Riverside said the agency was sending a full response to Polk Street and Avenue 59 in Thermal, about 25 miles southeast of Palm Springs.

The KC-130J is part of the VMGR-352 Squadron, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, according to USMC 1stLt Brett Vannier. It's not yet known where the F-35B was assigned.

A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes off at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 26, 2020. 3rd MAW continues its daily operations and mission essential tasks while enforcing precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Julian Elliott-Drouin) — A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes off at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 26, 2020.

The pilot of the F-35B ejected successfully and is currently being treated, and the KC-130J landed safely on the ground near the Thermal Airport, said Vannier. He also said that people on both planes were injured in the incident.