In a bid to locate a missing F-35 fighter jet, the US military has reached out to the public for assistance following the pilot’s ejection from the aircraft.
The fighter jet reportedly went missing on Sunday afternoon when the pilot was flying over the southern state of South Carolina.
The pilot, who has not been named, ejected and parachuted safely. He is in a stable condition in hospital, BBC reports.
A US military facility, Joint Base Charleston, made the appeal in a post on its verified X account.
They said, “We’re working with @MCASBeaufortSC (Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort) to locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap this afternoon. The pilot ejected safely. If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center at 843-963-3600.”
According to the statement, the search is focused north of JB Charleston, around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion based on the jet’s last-known position. The search is being carried out with federal aviation regulators.
The F-35 is reportedly one of the largest and most expensive weapons programme of its type in the world.