A debris field caused by a missing F-35 Marine Corps fighter jet was discovered in South Carolina on Monday, defense officials confirmed, a day after the plane went missing due to a "mishap."
The plane went missing after a pilot ejected from the stealth fighter jet on Sunday due to an unforeseen “mishap,” according to Marine officials. The ejection and disappearance prompted an investigation and search for the missing aircraft. The debris field was later found two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston.
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"The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process," the joint base said in a statement on Monday. "We would like to thank all of our mission partners, as well as local, county, and state authorities, for their dedication and support throughout the search and as we transition to the recovery phase."
The military jet had been left in autopilot mode when its operator ejected from the plane, leaving open the possibility that the F-35 could have been airborne, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston told NBC News. The transponder on the plane was also not working, and it had stealth technology turned on, making it harder to track.
The pilot was transported to a local hospital and was in stable condition on Sunday.
Joint Base Charleston said it coordinated with units and leaders in the Marines, Navy, Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Air Patrol, and local law enforcement across South Carolina. The agencies in the search used "both ground and air assets" in the effort.
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There have been several F-35 crashes since the jets started flying in 2012, including one caused by a software glitch in October 2022 and one caused by pilot error in January 2022.
Major aerospace company Lockheed Martin describes the F-35 series as the "most advanced fighter jet in the world" and the "most lethal, stealthy and survivable aircraft." The plane can travel over 1,000 miles without refueling.