In a recent incident, a state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jet has gone missing in South Carolina, leaving the US military searching for answers. The pilot managed to eject safely, but the whereabouts of the aircraft remain unknown, raising concerns of a potential unmanned flight.
Key Takeaway
The US military is currently searching for a missing F-35 fighter jet in South Carolina. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft, but its current location remains unknown. Speculation of an unmanned flight has arisen, although the Air Force has not confirmed this possibility. Search efforts are focused around the lakes in the area, with coordination between the military and FAA.
The Disappearance
The Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina reported the disappearance of the F-35 stealth aircraft over the weekend. In a public service announcement, they stated their inability to locate the specific aircraft following the pilot’s ejection during a training exercise.
According to their tweet, “We are working with @MCASBeaufortSC to locate an F-35 that was involved in an incident this afternoon. The pilot ejected. If you have any information that can assist our recovery teams in locating the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center.”
The exact cause of the incident leading to the pilot’s ejection has not been disclosed. However, it is known that the F-35 was in autopilot mode at the time of the ejection.
A Puzzling Situation
Curiously, the Air Force has refrained from using the term “accident” to describe the situation. Instead, they have chosen their words carefully, not indicating whether they believe the aircraft is still airborne or not.
This ambiguity has sparked speculation that the jet could potentially be flying in a “zombie” state. The Air Force has directed its search efforts to the areas around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, based on the last known position of the aircraft. Additionally, they are coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to aid in locating the missing F-35.
