F-35 Fighter Jet Crash: Pilot Safe After Emergency Ejection
In a dramatic 911 call, a South Carolina resident reported a startling incident over the weekend. They informed the dispatcher that a fighter jet, specifically an F-35, had crashed in their vicinity. The caller expressed concern and sought immediate assistance.
The pilot, self-identifying as the one who had ejected from the military aircraft, provided crucial information during the call. He confirmed his well-being despite a harrowing freefall of approximately 2,000 feet from the sky.
“Ma’am, a military jet crashed. I’m the pilot. We need to get rescue rolling. I’m not sure where the airplane is. It would have crash-landed somewhere. I ejected,” the pilot explained urgently.
Later in the conversation, he reiterated his status, saying, “Ma’am, I’m a pilot in a military aircraft, and I ejected. So I just rode a parachute down to the ground. Can you please send an ambulance?”
Joint Base Charleston promptly responded to the incident, with personnel from both the base and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort taking action. They were dealing with a mishap involving an F-35B Lightning II jet from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which falls under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The base provided reassuring news, stating, “The pilot ejected safely and was transferred to a local medical center in stable condition.” However, locating the crashed F-35 remained a priority for emergency response teams.
On the following day, the search efforts yielded results when personnel from Joint Base Charleston identified a debris field in Williamsburg County, located two hours northeast of the base. Multiple agencies, including the FAA, the Civil Air Patrol, and various law enforcement units, joined forces to locate the missing U.S. Marine Corps F-35B.
As the recovery operation continued, Joint Base Charleston urged community members to steer clear of the area to ensure the safety of both the recovery team and the public.
This incident serves as a testament to the swift and coordinated response of emergency teams when faced with such challenging situations.
Note: This article is based on reports by The Associated Press.
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