Key Takeaways
- A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II crashed at MCAS Miramar in San Diego; the pilot successfully ejected and is in stable condition.
- Volkswagen (VOW3) CEO Oliver Blume is pressuring the EU to impose urgent 20–30% tariffs on Chinese plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to counter a 28% market share surge.
- Serbia secured a critical 30-day U.S. sanctions waiver for its Russian-owned oil firm NIS, extending operations at the Pancevo refinery through September 2026.
- Lockheed Martin (LMT) shares may face scrutiny as investigators probe the "Class A mishap" involving the advanced fifth-generation fighter.
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Crashes at MCAS Miramar
Emergency crews responded to a "Class A mishap" Friday morning involving a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San Diego. Aerial footage from the scene showed the burned-out wreckage of the aircraft in a field approximately six miles northwest of the airfield.
Military officials confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected and has been recovered by emergency personnel. The aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin (LMT), was reportedly returning from a mission when the incident occurred. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the crash, which sparked a small brush fire near State Route 52.
Volkswagen Demands EU Action on Chinese PHEV Imports
Volkswagen (VOW3) has intensified its call for the European Union to implement countervailing duties on Chinese plug-in hybrids. CEO Oliver Blume warned that "we have no time to lose" as Chinese brands captured 28.3% of Europe’s PHEV market in the first half of 2026.
The demand comes as the VW Tiguan PHEV fell from the top-selling spot to fourth place, overtaken by models from Chinese rivals like BYD and Jaecoo. While the EU already imposes tariffs on battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), Blume argues that the lack of similar duties on hybrids allows Chinese manufacturers to bypass trade barriers. Handelsblatt reports that EU insiders expect a formal decision on these duties by the fall of 2026.
Serbia Secures Sanctions Extension for NIS Oil Firm
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has granted a new 30-day sanctions waiver to the Serbian oil company NIS, which is majority-owned by Russia's Gazprom Neft. The extension allows the Pancevo refinery to continue processing crude oil through the end of September 2026 while ownership negotiations continue.
The waiver is intended to facilitate the sale of the 56.15% Russian-held stake to Hungary’s energy giant MOL Group. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic indicated that the divestment is crucial for the country's energy security. Serbia currently holds a 29.87% stake in the firm and intends to increase its shareholding by an additional 5% once the Russian exit is finalized.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.