The US military has asked residents to help find a stealth-capable US fighter jet that went missing on Sunday in South Carolina after its pilot safely ejected the aircraft.
The pilot ejected and parachuted safely into a North Charleston city neighborhood at about 2 pm on Sunday local time, sparking a search by military officials to locate the missing multimillion-dollar plane.
“If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center,” a post from the Joint Base Charleston read on X.
“Based on the jet’s last-known position and in coordination with the FAA, we are focusing our attention north of JB Charleston, around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion,” it added.
We’re working with @MCASBeaufortSC to locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap this afternoon. The pilot ejected safely. If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center at 843-963-3600.
— Joint Base Charleston (@TeamCharleston) September 17, 2023
The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II jet began its flight from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The aircraft was part of a Marine fighter attack training squadron with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The authorities did not say what caused the mishap and said more information would be provided at a later time. Military officials have since appealed in online posts for help from the public to locate the aircraft.
