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After more than a day of searching, a field of debris was finally found: A stealth jet was lost Sunday during a training mission in South Carolina.
Authorities later on Monday reported the discovery of debris in the state, US media reported. The exact location was not initially stated.
Entire fleet grounded
The F-35 stealth bomber, which was lost – yes, lost – during a training flight in the US on Sunday, continues to raise eyebrows among the world’s most powerful military. On Monday, the US Marines, to whose air force the missing fighter jet belonged, declared a two-day grounding for all aircraft. Grounding applies both in the US and worldwide.
After an “accident” during a training mission over South Carolina, the multirole fighter pilot flew a long distance on autopilot before crashing into water or a remote forest area. According to a statement from the Marines, the pilot was able to “eject safely from the aircraft.” He is in stable condition in hospital.
Hotline for the population
The air base near Charleston has now set up a hotline. The public is being asked for information on the whereabouts of the $80 million fighter jet.
An F-35 has a range of almost 2,000 kilometers, but it is unclear how much fuel it carried.
Most modern fighter jet
The stealth aircraft of the American defense company Lockheed Martin is considered one of the most modern fighter aircraft in the world. The missing aircraft is an F-35B, a vertical take-off aircraft that flies shorter distances.
Stealth jets like the F-35 have special geometry. Their surfaces are arranged at special angles so as not to reflect a signal back. A conventional high-frequency radar receives too little echo. According to several reports, the now missing fighter jet currently costs up to $100 million (about P90 million).
Camouflage causes ridicule
In the US the search continued to be ridiculed. “The US military lacks an F-35. If you find one, it could be their plane,” said a CNN headline. “We knew the F-35 was stealthy, but that’s ridiculous,” Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace (45) from South Carolina wrote on X. (kes)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
