US military seeks public assistance in locating the lost fighter jet.
After a “mishap” Sunday afternoon while flying above North Charleston, a Marine Corps pilot was able to safely exit the F-35B Lightning II jet, according to military sources. As a result, the hunt for his missing fighter jet is now concentrated on two lakes to the north of North Charleston.
At around 2:00 pm, the pilot successfully parachuted into North Charleston and was brought to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, according to Maj Melanie Salinas. The pilot’s identity has not been made public.
According to Senior Master Sergeant Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston, the search for the F-35 Lightning II jet was concentrated in Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion based on the location and trajectory of the missing aircraft. North of North Charleston are both lakes.
Nancy Mace, a local representative, asked: “How the hell can you lose an F-35? Why don’t we urge the public to find a jet and turn it in if there isn’t a tracking device?
After some nasty weather passed over the area, a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division chopper joined the hunt for the F-35, according to Stanton.
Authorities stated that they are currently looking into the cause of the pilot’s ejection.
According to Salinas, the pilot of a second F-35 made a safe landing at Joint Base Charleston.
The pilots and their aircraft were part of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which is stationed in Beaufort, which is close to the Atlantic coast of South Carolina.
