In a puzzling turn of events, a search for a missing F-35 stealth fighter jet in South Carolina has come to a close after authorities uncovered a debris field. The aircraft, valued at $100 million, went missing, prompting questions about its whereabouts and the actions of the unidentified pilot who had ejected.
According to reports, the pilot claimed to have lost control of the jet due to adverse weather conditions. Experts in the field, however, suggest a different narrative, speculating that the pilot may have abandoned the aircraft before activating its tracking system. The crash site was located in a wooded area in South Carolina, approximately 60 miles away from where the pilot deployed his parachute.
In a revealing audio clip from a Charleston County Emergency Medical Services call, a voice described the pilot's uncertainty about the crash, stating, "He’s unsure of where his plane crashed, said he just lost it in the weather." Following his parachute landing in a North Charleston residential neighborhood, the pilot received immediate medical attention but has since been discharged from the hospital.
The question on many minds is why the F-35 could not be tracked during this incident. Military officials have attributed the mishap to a "malfunction" thus far. Richard Aboulafia, a veteran military aviation expert and consultant, suggests a plausible explanation – the pilot might have been operating the jet without activating its tracking capabilities, ejecting before having the chance to do so.
Explaining this further, Richard stated, "If you turned on the onboard device it would be easily trackable. But this is a stealth aircraft. If you don’t turn that particular device on it’s going to be hard to make contact. Most likely, he or she did not have a lot of time to react."
At the time of the jet's disappearance, authorities sought assistance from the public through social media to aid in its recovery, an action deemed "unusual" by Richard. He added, "But what is the harm? The onboard device has not been turned on, it’s not being tracked. So it makes perfect sense that they’re going to ask for help from people in the area who might have seen a jet heading in their direction." Local residents reportedly heard a loud noise when the plane ultimately crashed.
The F-35 fighter jet is part of the U.S. Department of Defense's most expensive weapons system program, according to a May 2023 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Despite its challenges, Richard emphasized that the jet remains one of the world's premier fighter aircraft. "I understand the frustration with delays and cost overruns and whatever else," he remarked. "But the fact is they can’t produce these fast enough for demand. And that’s the bottom line."