Aircraft missing after pilot ejects over South Carolina - but stealth design 'makes it more difficult to detect'.

On Sunday, a Marine Corps pilot ejected out of an F-35 Lightning II during a “mishap” over South Carolina.

The pilot parachuted into a neighbourhood in North Charleston and was taken to a medical centre but the whereabouts of the plane is unknown.

The jet's transponder, which could help track it down, was not working "for some reason that we haven't yet determined", Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston told The Washington Post.

"So that's why we put out the public request for help."

Senior Master Sgt Heather Stanton said a police helicopter had joined the search which was focused on Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion.

"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 Twitter.

The U.S. military said on Monday it was still searching for an F-35 fighter jet after a mishap on Sunday near an air base in South Carolina and has asked for the public's help locating it.

The pilot of the F-35B Lightning II jet ejected safely from the aircraft, according to a statement from Joint Base Charleston.

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The fighter jet's main advantages, according to its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin (LMT. ..... 

Based on the jet's last known position, the base said search efforts were focused north of the base around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion. That could suggest the plane may have crashed in water, which would make it difficult to locate.

The FAA referred queries on the issue to the U.S. military.

A U.S. fighter jet's stealth abilities appear to be working too well, with authorities forced to ask the public for help finding an F-35 that went missing somewhere over South Carolina when the pilot ejected due to a "mishap."

Joint Base Charleston, an air base in North Charleston, said it was working with Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort to "locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap" on Sunday afternoon.

The pilot was able to safely eject from the aircraft, an F-35B Lightning II jet, and was taken to a local medical center in stable condition, the air base said in a Facebook post at around 5:35 p.m. ET.

The condition of the pilot was not immediately clear as of Monday morning. The circumstances surrounding the “mishap” also remained unclear. Joint Base Charleston and the U.S. Air Force did not immediately respond to overnight requests for comment from NBC News.

Joint Base Charleston asked the public to "cooperate with military and civilian authorities" as the effort to locate the jet continued. "If you have any information that would assist the recovery teams, please call the JB Charleston Base Defense Operations Center at 843-963-3600."

 ..... The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The incident attracted some criticism, with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S. ..... 

He added that the aircraft is "stealth, so it has different coatings and different designs that make it more difficult than a normal aircraft to detect."

Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin describes the F-35 series on its website as the "Most Advanced Fighter Jet in the World," as well as the "most lethal, stealthy and survivable aircraft."

The F-35 family includes three single-seat variants, including the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jet, the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant and the F-35C carrier.

Authorities found a debris field Monday afternoon in the US military's search for a missing F-35 stealth jet that a pilot ejected from Sunday during a bizarre "mishap," officials said.

The debris was discovered about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston in Williamsburg County, according to a press release from the South Carolina military base.

"Members of the community should avoid the area as the recovery team secures the debris field," Joint Base Charleston said.

The joint base is transferring incident command to the United States Marine Corps as the recovery process gets started. The base could not officially confirm the debris was from the missing jet Monday night.

The $90 million jet, which maker Lockheed Martin brags as being "the most lethal, stealthy and survivable aircraft in the world" vanished after its pilot left the aircraft on autopilot before bailing in a parachute and landing in a homeowner's backyard Sunday afternoon.

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Military officials even pleaded with the public for tips that might lead to the jet.

"The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process," Joint Base Charleston said Monday evening.

The missing jet led to some ridicule over the last 24 hours.

 ..... Nancy Mace tweeted.

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North Charleston, S.C. - A Marine Corps pilot safely ejected from a fighter jet after a “mishap” over North Charleston Sunday afternoon and the search for his missing aircraft was focused on two lakes, military officials said.

Military officials appealed in online posts Sunday for any help from the public in locating the aircraft, including oneon X, formerly known as Twitter:

We’re working with @MCASBeaufortSC to locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap this afternoon. The pilot ejected safely. ..... 

The pilot ejected and parachuted safely into a North Charleston neighborhood at about 2 p.m. He was taken to a local hospital and was in stable condition, said Maj. Melanie Salinas. His name hasn't been released.

Based on the missing plane's location and trajectory, the search for the F-35 Lightning II jet was focused on Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, said Senior Master Sgt. Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston. Both lakes are north of North Charleston.

A South Carolina Law Enforcement Division helicopter joined the search for the F-35 after some bad weather cleared in the area, Stanton said.

Officials are still investigating why the pilot ejected, authorities said.

The pilot of a second F-35 returned safely to Joint Base Charleston, Salinas said.

The planes and pilots were with the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 based in Beaufort, not far from South Carolina's Atlantic coast.

F-35s, built by Lockheed Martin, cost around $80 million each, according to Agence France-Presse.

Authorities have located a debris field in rural Williamsburg County, South Carolina, as part of the search for a missing F-35 stealth jet that went down on Sunday. The pilot had ejected from the aircraft in a bizarre incident and landed safely in a homeowner's backyard. The debris field was discovered about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston, where incident command is being transferred to the United States Marine Corps for the recovery process.

The search for the missing jet was complicated by the fact that the transponder, which would typically help locate the aircraft, was not functioning. ..... This led to some ridicule and disbelief, with one person asking, "How in the hell do you lose an F-35?". The pilot's decision to put the aircraft on autopilot before ejecting also raised questions.

After a day of searching, the debris field was finally located in Williamsburg County. Personnel from Joint Base Charleston and MCAS Beaufort, in coordination with local authorities, worked to secure the area. The base thanked local, county, and state officials for their assistance in the search. The exact cause of the incident is under investigation, and details are being withheld to preserve the integrity of the investigative process.

The loss of the F-35 marks the third recent "Class-A mishap" for the Marine Corps, which involves damages that exceed $2.5 million or result in the destruction of a Department of Defense aircraft or loss of life or permanent disability. The previous incidents involved the crash of a V-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft in Australia, resulting in the deaths of three Marines, and the crash of a combat jet near a San Diego base during a training flight, resulting in the death of a Marine Corps pilot.

The search for the missing F-35 continues, with teams using both ground and air assets to locate the aircraft. The failure to track the advanced warplane has drawn questions and ridicule, with some posting jokes and memes on social media. The F-35 is highly advanced and designed to be nearly impossible to track with radar. It is equipped with advanced sensors and other equipment. The disappearance of such an expensive and technologically advanced aircraft has sparked incredulous comments online, with some posting manipulated photographs of “lost” signs offering rewards for its recovery.

Search for F-35B Lightning II fighter jet focused on two lakes after Marine Corps pilot ejected over North Charleston for unknown reason.

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In a dramatic turn of events, a search is underway for a missing F-35 jet after a Marine pilot was forced to eject from it on Sunday afternoon in North Charleston, South Carolina. The pilot, whose identity has not been disclosed, was flying an F-35 from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Fortunately, he was safely transported to a local medical center and is reported to be in stable condition, according to Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman for Joint Base Charleston.

The reasons behind the pilot's need to eject from the aircraft are still unknown. As a result, a wide range of government and military officials, including the Marines, Second Marine Aircraft Wing, Navy regional authorities in the Southeast, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Federal Aviation Administration, have launched an extensive search operation. Additionally, law enforcement teams from across the state are providing their assistance.

Joint Base Charleston expressed gratitude for the support received from various organizations involved in the search effort. The base is concentrating its search around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, based on the last-known position of the F-35B Lightning II jet. They are working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration and are urging the public to provide any information that could aid in the recovery of the missing jet.

The F-35B Lightning II is a variant specifically used by the Marine Corps, designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, this aircraft made its debut in combat operations for the Marine Corps in Afghanistan in 2018. However, the F-35's Joint Strike Fighter program has not been without controversy, as it is considered the Department of Defense's most expensive weapons system program to date, with an estimated cost of nearly $1.7 trillion, including the purchase, operation, and maintenance of the aircraft and associated systems.

While the search for the missing F-35 continues, concerns have been raised regarding the stealth capabilities of the jet. The authorities have been compelled to seek assistance from the public to locate the elusive aircraft. Joint Base Charleston, in collaboration with Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, issued a plea for cooperation with military and civilian authorities. They have provided a hotline number, 843-963-3600, for anyone with relevant information to contact them.

The incident has drawn criticism from Rep. ..... She expressed surprise that there was no tracking device installed on the aircraft and questioned the authorities' reliance on the public to find and report its whereabouts.

According to Jeremy Huggins, the jet's transponder, which is typically used to track aircraft, was not functioning at the time of the incident. He explained that the F-35's stealth capabilities, including unique coatings and designs, make it much harder to detect compared to a standard aircraft. ..... 

As the search for the missing F-35 continues, the focus remains on locating the jet and ensuring the safety of the pilot. The combined efforts of military, government, and law enforcement agencies, along with the assistance of the public, are crucial in resolving this extraordinary situation.

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.