US unable to detect own F-35 stealth jet, asks for assistance
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A pilot flying an F-35 in South Carolina on Sunday afternoon ejected from the craft.
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A U.S. F-35 fighter jet of the Vermont Air National Guard flies over Skopje Airport, on Friday, June 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
The US military can't find a stealth-capable US fighter jet that disappeared on Sunday, prompting an unusual call to the people to help locate the missing multimillion-dollar plane.
Following what authorities have classified as a "mishap," a pilot operating an F-35 aircraft in South Carolina's southern region ejected from the plane on a Sunday afternoon.
The US military just announced that it has lost an F-35, it's legendarily expensive, behind-schedule fighter jet. It is appealing to the public to report sightings. This is not a joke. If you see it, call Joint Base Charleston and ask for Heather Stanton. pic.twitter.com/W7LKKtp9kP
— Nury Vittachi (@NuryVittachi) September 18, 2023
The pilot survived, but the military faced a significant predicament: they couldn't locate the jet. Consequently, Joint Base Charleston sought assistance from local residents.
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A message posted on X by the base stated, "If you possess any information that could aid our recovery teams in locating the F-35, please contact the Base Defense Operations Center."
Base officials revealed that they were conducting searches, in collaboration with federal aviation regulators, in the vicinity of two lakes situated to the north of Charleston city.
It is worth noting that these aircraft, produced by Lockheed Martin, come with an approximate price tag of $80 million each.
