Army in search of F-35 fighter jet after “mishap” activates pilot to eject over North Charleston, S.C.

North Charleston, S.C. — A Marine Corps pilot safely ejected from a fighter jet after a “mishap” over North Charleston Sunday afternoon and the seek for his lacking airplane was once interested in two lakes, army officers stated.

Army officers appealed in on-line posts Sunday for any lend a hand from the general public in finding the airplane, together with oneon X, previously referred to as Twitter:

The pilot ejected and parachuted safely right into a North Charleston community at about 2 p.m. He was once taken to an area medical institution and was once in strong situation, stated Maj. Melanie Salinas. His identify hasn’t been launched.

In accordance with the lacking airplane’s location and trajectory, the seek for the F-35 Lightning II jet was once interested in Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, stated Senior Grasp Sgt. Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston. Each lakes are north of North Charleston.

Missing Marine Corps Fighter Jet
A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II plays an indication flight on the Paris Air Display, in Le Bourget, east of Paris, on June 20, 2017.

Michel Euler / AP


A South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Department helicopter joined the seek for the F-35 after some unhealthy climate cleared within the space, Stanton stated.

Officers are nonetheless investigating why the pilot ejected, government stated.

The pilot of a 2nd F-35 returned safely to Joint Base Charleston, Salinas stated.

The planes and pilots have been with the Marine Fighter Assault Coaching Squadron 501 based totally in Beaufort, now not some distance from South Carolina’s Atlantic coast.

F-35s, constructed by means of Lockheed Martin, value round $80 million each and every, in line with Agence France-Presse.  

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