In a dramatic turn of events, a Marine Corps pilot had to safely eject from an F-35B Lightning II fighter jet during a mishap over North Charleston, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon. Military officials launched a search operation for the missing aircraft, focusing their efforts on two lakes in the area. The pilot's name has not been released, but he was reported to be in stable condition after parachuting safely into a North Charleston neighborhood.

The Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, in collaboration with Joint Base Charleston, immediately appealed to the public for assistance in locating the F-35B Lightning II. In a tweet, Joint Base Charleston requested anyone with information about the missing aircraft to contact the Base Defense Operations Center.

As the investigation into the incident continues, Senior Master Sgt. Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston revealed that the search for the F-35B Lightning II was primarily focused on Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, both located north of North Charleston. To aid in the search efforts, a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division helicopter joined the operation after the weather cleared.

The Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, based in Beaufort, was responsible for the F-35B Lightning II involved in the mishap. Fortunately, a second F-35B Lightning II returned safely to Joint Base Charleston, bringing some relief to the authorities.

With each F-35B Lightning II costing around $80 million, the urgency to locate the missing aircraft is paramount. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of these advanced fighter jets, confirmed the cost, highlighting the significant investment at stake.

The urgency and seriousness of this situation prompted a desperate plea from the military and civilian authorities for cooperation from the public. Joint Base Charleston, via Facebook, urged the public to assist in the search operation and to contact the Base Defense Operations Center with any relevant information.

While the cause of the mishap and the pilot's decision to eject remain under investigation, emergency response teams have been deployed to locate the missing F-35B Lightning II fighter jet. The situation remains fluid, with authorities actively working to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Fox News Digital reached out to Joint Base Charleston for further details, but as of now, no additional information has been made available. The search operation is ongoing, and authorities are hopeful that the missing F-35B Lightning II will be found soon.