A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jet crashed near Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina on Monday morning, according to a press release from the base. The pilot ejected safely and was transferred to a local medical center in stable condition.
The jet was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The squadron trains pilots and maintainers on the F-35B, which is the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the stealth fighter.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Emergency response teams are still trying to locate the F-35, which is valued at about $100 million. Teams from Joint Base Charleston and MCAS Beaufort are searching for the jet using both ground and air assets.
The public is asked to cooperate with military and civilian authorities as the effort continues. If anyone has any information that would assist the recovery teams, they are urged to call the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Public Affairs Office at 252-466-3827.
The F-35B is the most advanced fighter jet in the U.S. military’s inventory, capable of conducting air-to-air, air-to-ground, and electronic warfare missions. The jet can also take off and land vertically, making it suitable for operations from amphibious assault ships or austere bases.
This is the second crash involving an F-35B in less than a year. In October 2022, an F-35B from VMFAT-211 crashed near MCAS Yuma in Arizona, injuring the pilot and sparking a fire that damaged another F-35B parked nearby. The incident was blamed on a faulty fuel tube that caused a loss of engine power.
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