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. Military officials even reached out to the public for any tips that could lead to the jet's whereabouts. 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.