ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A military aircraft crashed off an airfield on the south side of the Albuquerque International Sunport on Tuesday, according to airport officials.

The pilot, identified as a member of the Defense Contract Management Agency, was the only individual on board and ejected before crashing, Kirtland Air Force Base said.

“Pilot was transported, categorized red, meaning he had some serious injuries, required immediate need for transport. There was two other civilians that were also assessed on scene. One was a patient refusal, and one was a non-patient for some of the debris that came across the road and that they were struck by,” said Albuquerque Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Lt. Jason Fejer. Kirtland Air Force Base said the pilot was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital and is in “serious, but stable condition.”

AFR received reports of a downed aircraft around 2 p.m. Bernalillo County Fire Rescue and the Kirtland Air Force Base Fire Department also responded to the crash.

Hundreds of people saw a fireball and a plume of smoke right after it happened.

In a statement, Lockheed Martin said:

An F-35B enroute from Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base, California, crashed after a refueling stop at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. This was a U.S. Government-owned and-operated aircraft that was being flown by a government pilot who safely ejected. The aircraft was a test jet equipped with Technology Refresh 2 (TR-2) and was transferring to Edwards AFB for additional test equipment modification. Safety is our priority, and we will follow appropriate investigation protocols.

Lindsay Wilson, Lockheed Martin

Traffic on University Blvd. is blocked south of Rio Bravo for an investigation. The cause of the crash is being reviewed by an Air Force Interim Safety Board.