The U.S. military has issued a public appeal to help locate an F-35B Lightning II jet that went missing over South Carolina following an in-flight “mishap” that led to the Marine Corps pilot’s ejection, The Guardian reported.
The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft over North Charleston on Sunday afternoon. Current search efforts for the missing jet are concentrated on Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, both north of North Charleston.
Local Congresswoman Nancy Mace expressed frustration over the situation, asking,
“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?”
The pilot, whose identity has not been disclosed, parachuted safely into North Charleston around 2 p.m. and was subsequently transported to a local hospital.
“He is in stable condition”, confirmed Maj. Melanie Salinas.
Senior Master Sgt. Heather Stanton of Joint Base Charleston informed that a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division helicopter joined the search after weather conditions improved.
The reason for the pilot’s ejection is yet to be determined. The planes and pilots were part of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 based in Beaufort, near South Carolina’s Atlantic coast.
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