A US fighter jet, identified as an F-35, has gone missing in South Carolina following a training mishap. According to a report by The Associated Press, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s helicopter has been deployed to assist in the search operation for the missing aircraft.
Ministry officials have confirmed that a Marine Corps pilot safely ejected from the fighter jet over North Charleston on Sunday afternoon. The focus of the search operation has been on two lakes north of North Charleston, namely Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion.
South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace expressed her astonishment at the situation, wondering aloud, “How in the hell do you lose an F-35?” She also questioned the absence of a tracking device for such advanced aircraft, raising concerns about relying on the public to locate the missing jet.
Now that I got that out of the way. How in the hell do you lose an F-35?
How is there not a tracking device and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) September 18, 2023
In a post on social media (formerly Twitter), Congresswoman Mace stated, “Now that I got that out of the way. How in the hell do you lose an F-35? How is there not a tracking device, and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”
The pilot, who ejected from the aircraft, descended via parachute and landed safely in a North Charleston neighborhood at approximately 2 p.m. Following the ejection, the pilot was promptly transported to a local hospital, where reports indicate that he is in stable condition. The identity of the pilot has not yet been released, as reported by the Associated Press.
Senior Master Sgt. Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston confirmed that the search for the missing F-35 Lightning II jet was concentrated around the areas of Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion. The search operation was initiated based on the last known location and trajectory of the missing plane.
Military officials made online appeals to the public on Sunday, requesting assistance in locating the missing aircraft. Additionally, authorities are currently conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the pilot’s ejection.
It’s worth noting that the pilot of a second F-35 returned safely to Joint Base Charleston, according to Maj. Melanie Salinas. Both the aircraft and the pilots were associated with the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, based in Beaufort, which is not far from South Carolina’s Atlantic coast.
As the search continues for the missing F-35 jet, questions surrounding its disappearance and the need for improved tracking measures for advanced military aircraft are being raised by officials and the public alike.
