Missing F-35 stealth fighter jet wreckage found after pilot ejected
The remains of a missing $150 million F-35 jet have been found after the pilot ejected.
US Air Force investigators are attempting to locate the F-35 jet, which was flying over South Carolina at the time the Marine pilot made his swift exit. Now, sources have reportedly confirmed to ABC15 that "Military ground crews have found parts and debris associated with the missing aircraft" F-35 near Indian Town Road and Bartells Crossroads, in Williamsburg County, SC.
The airman, based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, was found alive and transported to a nearby medical centre. After the ejection, he parachuted to the ground - but the location of his $150million warplane remained a mystery.
It was last seen in the skies above North Charleston. The pilot of an accompanying fighter jet safely landed at Joint Base Charelston. The joint base previously stated that it is collaborating with the Marine Corps and the Federal Aviation Administration to locate the concerned F-35. The area around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, to the north of the joint base, is said to be the focus.
For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
All you need to know about spy balloons being shot down over US and Canada
Ground crews have found parts and debris associated with the missing aircraft" F-35 near Indian Town Road and Bartells Crossroads, in Williamsburg County, SC (Getty Images)In an update today, Joint Base Charleston added: "Personnel from Joint Base Charleston and @MCASBeaufortSC in close coordination with local authorities, have located a debris field in Williamsburg County. The debris was discovered two hours northeast of JB Charleston.
"Members of the community should avoid the area as the recovery team secures the debris field. We are transferring incident command to the USMC this evening, as they begin the recovery process. We would like to thank all of our mission partners, as well as local, county, and state authorities, for their dedication and support throughout the search and as we transition to the recovery phase."
Several units of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing are housed at the Marine Corps Air Station at Beaufort, which is located about 35 miles to the southwest of Charleston. This includes the F-35B Lightning II-flying Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. The 6,900 acre site has 4,700 military personnel and uses a massive combat area to test its air defence.
It also contains a ground-to-air combat area, which is located in Georgia's McIntosh County. A highly decorated Marine Corps pilot who lived there died last month when his combat aircraft crashed during a training mission close to a base in San Diego.
The airman, based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, was found alive and transported to a nearby medical centre (Getty Images)As a result of the incident, US Marine Corps Commandant Eric Smith issues two-day stand-down for all aviation units to take place. No units will be allowed to fly until they have a two-day discussion about safety measures and procedures, the commandant said in a service-wide email.
According to Task & Purpose, that incident was the first to involve a Marine Corps plane and the sixth Class-A aviation accident in the current fiscal year—defined as damage over $2 million or a fatality. Following a "off-base vehicle accident" in 2021, an airman assigned to Joint Base Charleston perished, according to authorities.
According to the authorities, the airman was a member of the 437th Airlift Wing and was killed in a collision, according to ABC. According to the US Defense Casualty Analysis System, there were 844 military deaths in 2022. Of those deaths, 265 were accidental while 31 were deemed as a homicide.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
