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A US Air Force test pilot has been hospitalized and is in serious condition following a military aircraft crash near Albuquerque International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident occurred when the pilot, operating an F-35B Lightning II, ejected from the jet shortly before it crashed near Kirtland Air Force Base. A Kirtland Air Force Base spokesperson confirmed that the pilot is expected to recover.

The crash happened around 2 PM local time, drawing responses from multiple fire departments. The jet had departed from Lockheed’s Fort Worth, Texas facility and had stopped at Kirtland Air Force Base for refueling en route to Edwards Air Force Base in California. According to Lockheed Martin, the aircraft was heading to California for additional test equipment modifications.

In a brief statement, Lockheed Martin, the aircraft’s manufacturer, said they were committed to launching an “appropriate investigation” and said “safety is our priority.”

The Defense Contract Management Agency confirmed that the injured pilot is affiliated with their organization. Department of the Air Force spokesperson Rose Riley stated that the pilot remains in serious but stable condition.