A Marine Corps pilot safely ejected from a fighter jet over South Carolina and the search for his missing aircraft was focused on two lakes near North Charleston.
Military officials say the pilot parachuted safely into a North Charleston neighborhood Sunday afternoon. He was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition. The pilot's name has not been released.
A search for the missing F-35 was focused on Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, which are north of North Charleston. A South Carolina Law Enforcement Division helicopter joined the search. The pilot of a second F-35 returned safely to Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina.
Charleston's WCIV TV has confirmed with Joint Base Charleston that the fighter was placed on auto-pilot before the pilot ejected. According to Joint Base Charleston, the F-35B Lighting II jet was from the Marine Attack Training Squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
A Twitter post from aviation enthusiasts in the low country claims a possible sonic boom was heard around 4:30AM in Charleston are in the search area.