The debris field from the F-35 fighter jet that disappeared over South Carolina on Sunday afternoon has been found, leading officials to launch an investigation into what caused the plane’s “mishap” that resulted in its crash.
Joint Base Charleston, an air base in North Charleston, shared the news of the incident on Sunday after the plane went missing when the pilot was forced to eject.
The jet’s debris field was located two hours northeast of the base and was discovered Monday after a multi-agency search from the ground and air.
The fighter jet was Lockheed Martin’s F-35B Lightning II model, which is “the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter jet in the world” and costs nearly $100 million, according to the company.
The Marines shared a statement following the discovery of the jet, saying that officials would be looking into what happened, as it wasn’t made clear why the pilot ejected.
“The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process,” the Marines said in the statement.
The military had asked for the public’s assistance in finding the jet before they were able to locate it. The request was unusual and sparked some criticism from some officials in the area.
“How in the hell do you lose an F-35?” Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace asked on X. “How is there not a tracking device, and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”
Now, community members in the Williamsburg County area are being asked to stay clear as they work to recover the remains of the jet.
“We are transferring incident command to the USMC this evening as they begin the recovery process,” Joint Base Charleston posted on X.