The wreckage of a highly advanced F-35 fighter jet, valued at $100 million, has finally been found, bringing an end to an intensive search effort. The aircraft had disappeared after the pilot ejected during a routine training mission over South Carolina. The debris field was located in Williamsburg County, northeast of the initial search area. Various teams from the Marines, Navy, Civil Air Patrol, and local law enforcement had joined forces to locate the jet. Captain Joe Leitner of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing confirmed that the discovered wreckage indeed belonged to the F-35.
In response to this incident, the Marine Corps' acting commandant, General Eric Smith, has called for a pause in air operations to assess safety protocols and best practices. This decision comes in the wake of a series of accidents that have resulted in the loss of several aircraft, including an F/A-18 and an MV-22 Osprey. General Smith directed all Marine Corps aviation units to conduct a two-day pause for discussions on aviation safety matters.
The military had sought civilian assistance in locating the F-35B Lightning II jet, which experienced a mishap on Sunday afternoon. Questions arose regarding the effectiveness of the aircraft's transponder, a device used for transmitting signals about the aircraft's location. Officials expressed uncertainty about the transponder's functionality during the flight and after the pilot's ejection.
The manufacturer of the F-35, Lockheed Martin Corp., extended its support for the government's investigation into the incident. The F-35 program is the costliest weapons program in US history, with a projected cost of $412 billion for development and acquisition, along with an additional $1.2 trillion for fleet operations and maintenance over the next six decades. The price of a single F-35 jet can surpass $160 million, depending on the variant, and they are utilized by the Air Force, Navy, and Marines.
This is not the first time an F-35 has encountered problems. A 2018 report by the Government Accountability Office revealed that an F-35B version crashed due to a manufacturing defect in a fuel tube. In 2019, a Japanese F-35A stealth fighter crashed into the ocean during an exercise, with Japan attributing the incident to pilot disorientation rather than technical malfunction.
The disappearance of the F-35 prompted humorous responses online, ranging from satirical missing-jet fliers to humorously edited movie posters. There were questions raised about the lack of a tracking device and the public being called upon to locate a missing fighter jet. South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace expressed her disbelief on social media, asking how it was possible to lose such an advanced aircraft.