F-35 Fighter Jet Debris Found After Pilot Forced to Eject
Crews are currently working to recover the debris of an F-35 fighter jet that went missing in South Carolina over the weekend. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. The pilot was forced to eject before the jet went missing.
The debris field of the jet, about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston, was discovered on Monday after an intensive multi-agency search. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35B Lightning II jet, has described it as “the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter jet in the world.”
The pilot who ejected from the jet was taken to a local medical facility and is reportedly in stable condition, according to Joint Base Charleston. The military had made a public plea for help in locating the missing jet before the debris field was found. They had asked for assistance in the areas near Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, northwest of Charleston.
Now that the debris field has been located, community members are advised to stay away while recovery crews secure the area in Williamsburg County. Joint Base Charleston has announced that incident command will be transferred to the USMC as they begin the recovery process.
The exact cause of the incident that forced the pilot to eject remains unknown. The mishap is currently under investigation and further details are being withheld to preserve the integrity of the investigative process, according to the Marines. This incident is part of a string of recent mishaps involving military aircraft. The Marine Corps has ordered a two-day pause in flight operations to ensure the maintenance of operational standardization.
In August, two other aviation incidents had occurred. A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet combat jet crashed near San Diego, resulting in the death of the pilot. A Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey also crashed during military exercises in Australia, claiming the lives of three US Marines. Both incidents are still under investigation.
Although there is no indication of a connection between these incidents, all of them are classified as Class-A mishaps by the Marine Corps. This classification is given to incidents that result in a fatality or more than $2.5 million in property damage.