The search for an F-35 stealth fighter jet that went missing Sunday afternoon after the pilot ejected mid-flight came to an end at a debris field in South Carolina yesterday.
The debris field was found about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston, and residents were asked to avoid the area while a recovery team worked at the site.
The pilot, who ejected around 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition according to Marine officials. In a news release last night, the Marine Corps said: “The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process.”
Earlier in the day yesterday, the acting commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, ordered the stand-down of all aviation operations for two days after the crash. It’s the third “Class-A mishap” over the past six weeks, which is when damages reach $2.5 million or more. The F-35B Lightning II stealth plane cost around $100 million. Commanders will reportedly spend the stand-down going over safe flying policies, practices, and procedures.
Source: AP News