24/7 Space News
AEROSPACE
US finds debris from missing F-35
US finds debris from missing F-35
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Sept 18, 2023

Debris from a stealth jet that went missing after the pilot ejected has been found, the US military said Monday, after a day in which failure to track the $80 million aircraft drew amazement and ridicule in equal measure.

The debris field from the F-35 was found in Williamsburg County, South Carolina, two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston (JBC), officials said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Members of the community should avoid the area as the recovery team secures the debris field," the statement read.

When the jet disappeared over South Carolina on Sunday, JBC issued a plaintive call on social media asking for anyone who had information about it to call in.

Flight tracking sites showed several search aircraft focused on a wooded and farmland area near Stuckey, which is in Williamsburg County, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Charleston, late Monday afternoon.

The F-35 Lightning II jet is coveted by US allies around the world, especially Ukraine, with its distinctive shape and features that shield it from radar detection.

The pilot ejected for unknown reasons and parachuted safely into a North Charleston neighborhood on Sunday -- leaving the jet flying in what some called a "zombie state."

In 1989 the pilot of a malfunctioning Soviet MiG-23 ejected over Poland and the jet continued to fly on autopilot until it crashed in Kortrijk, Belgium, more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) away.

The disappearance of a highly advanced aircraft sparked incredulous comments online.

"How in the hell do you lose an F-35? How is there not a tracking device and we're asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?" said Nancy Mace, a member of Congress representing the Charleston area.

- Hard for radar to detect -

Some posted manipulated photographs of lost signs on trees, offering rewards to find the missing jet.

One post showed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posing in front of an F-35, suggesting he took it.

Since Russia invaded his country last year, Zelensky has been pressing the United States to supply his air force with advanced US jets to give his military an advantage.

The US has begun training Ukraine pilots on F-16s.

The missing aircraft was an F-35B, a variation operated by the Marines that has short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.

The shape of its airframe, including two angled stabilizers on the back, and the use of special materials make it harder for traditional radar to detect.

JBC spokesman Jeremy Huggins told the Washington Post that the jet's transponder was not working, and that its stealth capabilities added to the challenges of tracking it.

At least seven F-35s have been destroyed in previous crashes, due to a range of causes.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AEROSPACE
Several ASEAN air force chiefs skip Myanmar meeting
Yangon, Myanmar (AFP) Sept 14, 2023
Air force chiefs from several countries around Southeast Asia did not attend a conference in Myanmar this week after the ASEAN regional bloc accused the ruling junta of targeting civilians in its post-coup crackdown. The snub came after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) accused the junta last week of ignoring a peace plan agreed with the bloc to end violence sparked by the military regime's coup. Myanmar is still a member of ASEAN, but its military rulers have been excluded from ... read more

AEROSPACE
Kayhan Space Raises $7 million, Unveils First-Ever Autonomous Space Traffic Coordination Service

NASA joins the still controversial search for UFOs

US astronaut sets record for stint in space

Kombucha: Ally for Moon and Mars

AEROSPACE
Mini space thruster that runs on water

Rocket Lab signs deal with Leidos to launch 4 HASTE missions

Musk biography describes troubled tycoon driven by demons

Marcus Wandt will fly to International Space Station on third Axiom Space mission

AEROSPACE
Sols 3948-3949: A Rocky Road, or Two!

Another Martian Weekend" Sols 3943-3945

Sols 3936-3939: Double the Fun

China publishes new datasets obtained by Mars, lunar probes

AEROSPACE
Tianzhou 5 spacecraft burns up on Earth reentry

Crew of Shenzhou XV mission honored for six-month space odyssey

China solicits names for manned lunar exploration vehicles

From rice to quantum gas: China's targets pioneering space research

AEROSPACE
Sidus Space secures position on upcoming Bandwagon Mission

Iridium and McQ develop remote monitoring solution for Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic

10 satellites with Terran Orbital Buses now on orbit for Tranche 0

DISA and US Space Force award Iridium PLEO satellite-based services contract

AEROSPACE
Every Gram Counts: SCHOTT Launches Lightweight Microelectronic Packages for Aerospace

AFRL'S newest supercomputer 'Raider' promises to compute years' worth of data in days

Skyloom and Satellogic sign agreement for Multipath Optical Comms Data Transmission

Gold and mercury, not books, for Venezuela's child miners

AEROSPACE
Tiny sea creatures reveal the ancient origins of neurons

On the road to spotting alien life

Alleged bodies of 'non-human beings' shown in Mexican Congress

Webb discovers methane, carbon dioxide in atmosphere of K2-18 b

AEROSPACE
Possible existence of Earth-like planet predicted in Outskirts of Solar System

SwRI will lead Hubble, Webb observations of Io, Jupiter's volcanic moon

In the service of planetary science, astrophysics and heliophysics

Mysterious Neptune dark spot detected from Earth for the first time

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.