A stealth fighter jet has gone missing after the pilot ejected during a “mishap”. The authorities have asked the public for help finding the F-35 after the pilot ejected over South Carolina.
Joint Base Charleston located in North Charleston, South Carolina is working with Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort to “locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap.”
The pilot was able to safely eject from the aircraft, an F-35B Lightning II jet, and was taken to a local medical center in stable condition, according to a post on social media.
The jet belongs to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing unit’s training squadron. “The search-and-recovery efforts for the aircraft are ongoing, and we are thankful to the agencies assisting in this effort,” Captain Joe Leitner, the spokesperson for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, said. “The mishap is currently under investigation.”
The jet was left in autopilot mode when the pilot ejected from the aircraft, Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston, said. Authorities believed there was a possibility that it could have remained airborne for some time, though as of noon Monday they were said it was no longer flying.
Joint Base Charleston said in a statement that it was coordinating with units and leaders in the Marines and Navy, as well as the FAA, Civil Air Patrol and local law enforcement across South Carolina. The base said searchers were using “both ground and air assets” in the effort.
A post on the Joint Base Charleston Facebook page said this:
“Personnel from Joint Base Charleston and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort (MCAS Beaufort SC) are responding to a mishap involving an F-35B Lightning II jet from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.”Personnel from Joint Base Charleston and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort (MCAS Beaufort SC) are responding to a mishap involving an F-35B Lightning II jet from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The pilot ejected safely and was transferred to a local medical center in stable condition. Emergency response teams are still trying to locate the F-35. The public is asked to cooperate with military and civilian authorities as the effort continues. If you have any information that would assist the recovery teams, please call the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Public Affairs Office at 252-466-3827.