Fighter Pilot Reacts to SHOCKING Reasons Behind Icy F-35 Crash

About this video

Max analyzes the official Air Force report on an F-35A crash at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, on January 28, 2025. The investigation found that hydraulic fluid contaminated with water froze in the landing gear struts, causing weight-on-wheel sensors to falsely indicate the aircraft was on the ground while airborne. Max is joined by ‘Body,’ a former vice wing commander at Eielson, who discusses cold weather fighter operations. Max examines the sequence of events, including two attempted touch-and-goes during a 50-minute conference call with Lockheed Martin engineers, before the pilot ejected and the $196 million aircraft was destroyed.

Key takeaways

• Max explains the crash was caused by water-contaminated hydraulic fluid that froze in the landing gear struts during 40 minutes of ground operations in near-zero temperatures, preventing full strut extension and triggering false ground-mode flight controls
• Body and Max discuss that the pilot held at high key for 50 minutes consulting with Lockheed Martin engineers, who recommended an approach and arrestment, but the pilot attempted two touch-and-goes that temporarily melted ice but led to refreezing and loss of control
• Max notes that nine days later, another F-35 at Eielson experienced the same nose gear issue but landed safely using the approach and arrestment procedure, and both incidents traced back to contaminated fluid from the same hazmat barrel

Episode details: published September 1, 2025 · 76.1K views · 18:40 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The analysis and commentary described are Max Afterburner’s, attributed to him — his channel includes hypothetical-scenario and news-react content, which is presented as his analysis, not established fact.

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