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The jet went down near the Miramar Air Base in San Diego, California, following what the US Marines called a 'Class A mishap' - the pilot has been rushed to a medical facility

An F-35B fighter jet has crashed near a California air base, with the pilot rushed to a medical facility following what the US Marines called a "Class A mishap".

The jet went down Friday afternoon near the Miramar Air Base in San Diego.

The US Marines described the incident as a "Class A mishap" - the most severe mishap category used to describe incidents where the damage totals more than $2million, a military aircraft is destroyed, or a service member has died.

The pilot ejected, was recovered and then taken to a medical facility, the statement added.

"We can confirm a Class A mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity of MCAS Miramar," a spokesperson said.

"The pilot ejected and has been recovered. More information will be made available shortly."

Aerial footage from a news helicopter showed smoke billowing from the wreckage in a dirt field, with multiple military and firefighting vehicles and people standing nearby.

Flame retardant material appeared to be placed on the ground, and at least one person was seen spraying the wreckage with a fire hose.

Candace Hadley, a spokesperson for San Diego Fire, said firefighters were on scene to respond to a vegetation fire that sparked near the crash site. She referred additional questions to Miramar.

The F-35B comes from a family of advanced stealth fighter jets flown by the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.

The "B" version is capable of vertical landings and has an engine designed for short take-offs.

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