A US Marine Corps fighter plane went missing in South Carolina on Sunday after its pilot safely ejected the aircraft. According to a report by the Guardian, US military officials have asked the public for assistance in locating the lost multimillion-dollar plane.
According to military sources, a Marine Corps pilot successfully ejected the F-35 Lightning II jet above North Charleston on Sunday afternoon following a “mishap.” Authorities at the base said they were looking around two lakes north of Charleston in collaboration with federal aviation regulators.
The leading Joint Base Charleston has asked local residents for help. “If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center,” a post from the base read on X.
We’re working with @MCASBeaufortSC to locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap this afternoon. The pilot ejected safely. If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center at 843-963-3600.
— Joint Base Charleston (@TeamCharleston) September 17, 2023
Reacting to the news, Local congresswoman Nancy Mace wrote on X, “Now that I got that out of the way. 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?”
According to an AFP report, the planes, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, cost around $80 million each.