WASHINGTON: In a shocking turn of events, A stealth-capable US fighter jet vanished not from enemy radars but from the American military’s own radar, prompting an unusual plea to the public for assistance in locating the missing multimillion-dollar aircraft.
On a fateful Sunday afternoon, what authorities initially labeled as a “mishap,” unfolded in the southern state of South Carolina. An F-35 pilot found themselves in a precarious situation, leading to an emergency ejection from the high-tech aircraft. Remarkably, the pilot survived the ordeal, but the US military was faced with an expensive problem: they couldn’t locate the cutting-edge jet. Consequently, Joint Base Charleston took the extraordinary step of seeking help from local residents.
A post from the base on X, formerly known as Twitter, pleaded, “If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center.” In a coordinated effort with federal aviation regulators, authorities initiated a search around two lakes north of the city of Charleston.
Each of these Lockheed Martin-manufactured F-35 Lightning II jets costs approximately $80 million and is highly coveted by US allies worldwide, with its distinctive features designed to shield it from radar detection. Nevertheless, the fate of the missing aircraft remained shrouded in mystery as the investigation entered its early stages.
“We are currently still gathering information. The investigation is ongoing,” confirmed a spokesperson for Joint Base Charleston to AFP.
The pilot’s ejection from the aircraft occurred under unknown circumstances, and they safely descended via parachute into a North Charleston neighborhood. This left the F-35 in an eerie “zombie state,” flying aimlessly.
The bizarre incident evoked memories of a similar occurrence in 1989 when the pilot of a malfunctioning Soviet MiG-23 ejected over Poland, and the jet continued to fly on autopilot until it crashed in Kortrijk, Belgium, more than 900 kilometers away.
The disappearance of an advanced and costly aircraft raised incredulous comments online. “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?” questioned Nancy Mace, a member of Congress representing Charleston.
