On a routine flight: British F-35 fighter plane crashes over the Mediterranean

A British F-35B fighter aircraft crashed during a routine flight over the Mediterranean, according to the London Department of Defense.

The pilot was able to save himself in time during the incident on Wednesday morning using an ejector seat.

A spokesman for the ministry said in the afternoon that he was safely brought to the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

There were initially no details about the background.

The investigation had begun, it said.

The F-35, built by the US company Lockheed-Martin, is considered the most modern stealth fighter in the world.

The F-35B version was developed for aircraft carriers and can take off over short distances and land vertically.

F-35 machines were also used in the Middle East against the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS).

The world's most expensive fighter jet with equipment is estimated to cost around £ 100 million (€ 119 million).