New Delhi: In an unusual development, the US military is frantically searching for a stealth capable F-35 Lightning II fighter jet which went missing in South Carolina after the pilot ejected Sunday afternoon while the auto pilot was still on.
This meant that the aircraft of the US Marine Corps could have flown for a while before crashing once the fuel ran out.
The transponder, which usually helps locate the aircraft, was not working “for some reason that we haven’t yet determined,” said Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston. “So that’s why we put out the public request for help.”
The Joint Base Charleston has put an appeal on social media, asking the public to contact the base if anyone had information about the aircraft’s whereabouts following the “mishap” on Sunday.
The US military has reached out to the public seeking information regarding the plane, if they have spotted it flying or seen debris.
Based on the missing plane’s location and trajectory, the search for the aircraft was focused on Lake Moultrie, around 50 miles from North Charleston, Senior Master Sergeant Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston was quoted as saying.
The pilot enabled the autopilot function prior to his ejection, he added.
Officials have also said that they have no evidence that the plane has actually crashed.
Local Congresswoman, Rep. Nancy Mace, tweeted: “How in the hell do you lose an F-35? How is there not a tracking device and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”
There were reports that the F-35B originated from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and was part of a two-ship flight, with the other landing safely at MCAS Beaufort. But, there is no information on what led up to the ejection.
The aircraft belonged to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 based in Beaufort, not far from South Carolina’s Atlantic coast.
US military spokesperson Major Melanie Salinas said the pilot was in a stable condition after ejecting and was taken to a hospital.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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