A debris field has reportedly been located as the United States military investigates the disappearance of an F-35 jet on Sunday, in South Carolina. The debris field was found Monday, in Williamsburg County.
A pilot ejected from a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II that belonged to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, on Sunday afternoon after a "mishap," according to Joint Base Charleston. The pilot landed on the ground safely and was treated at a local medical center.
The base is working with Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort to help locate the missing aircraft. "Based on the jet’s last-known position and in coordination with the FAA, we are focusing our attention north of JB Charleston, around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion," Joint Base Charleston said in a statement on Facebook.
Following the discovery of the debris field Monday evening, a Joint Base Charleston spokesperson announced that they are transferring command of the incident to the United States Marine Corps.
The Marine Corps has announced in a press release, there would be a two-day pause in operations "to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices." It referenced three Class-A aviation "mishaps" over the past six weeks as the main reason for the stand-down.
During the pause, Marines will focus on measures such as proper flight procedures, ground safety, maintenance and combat readiness. "This stand down [is] being taken to ensure the service is maintaining operational standardization of combat-ready aircraft with well-prepared pilots and crews," the Marine Corps said in the press release. "This pause invests time and energy in reinforcing the Marine aviation community’s established policies, practices and procedures in the interests of public safety, protecting our Marines and sailors, and ensuring the Marine Corps remains a ready and highly-trained fighting force."