Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       Evening Headlines email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       US military officials are looking for an F-35 fighter jet that disappeared somewhere near South Carolina after an incident forced the pilot to eject.

       On Sunday, a Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jet suffered a “mishap” during a flight causing the pilot to eject himself to safety somewhere near the Air Force base, Joint Base Charleston – approximately five miles outside of Charleston.

       Though the pilot was located and safe, somehow, the jet went missing.

       It is unclear what happened during the flight that caused the pilot to eject. The Joint Base Charleston only referred to it as a “mishap”.

       Now, the Marine Corps, Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a cooperative search effort.

       Recommended Russian pilot tries to shoot down RAF spy plane over Black Sea: ‘You have the target’ The search for Cyprus' missing goes high-tech as time weighs on loved ones waiting for closure How Britain – and Boris – led the way in global fight against Putin

       On X, formerly known as Twitter, Joint Base Charleston sought information from the public.

       “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.

       “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.

       A spokesman at Joint Base Charleston told The Washington Post that the jet’s transponder, which would typically help locate the aircraft, was not working. They have yet to identify the cause of the malfunction.

       Lockheed Martin, the company that manufactures the F-35, describes the fighter jet as “The most lethal, survivable and connected fighter jet in the world.”

       Recommended Iran frees five wrongfully detained Americans as part of Biden-brokered deal Hurricane Lee landfall leaves one dead in Maine, thousands without power - latest Dramatic moment beachgoers pull stranded shark back to sea

       It is often described as one of the most stealth jets due to its design and power which make it more difficult for a normal aircraft to detect.

       The Independent has reached out to Joint Base Charleston and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort for comment.

       More about fighter jet Air Force Marine Corps Charleston South Carolina

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       Comments

       1/ 1US military hunt for missing F-35 fighter jet after it disappeared

       US military hunt for missing F-35 fighter jet after it disappeared

       An US F-35 fighter jet is pictured during an event of the US Air Force

       Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in