Unidentified US Military Pilot Makes Emergency Landing in Resident’s Backyard
In a rather peculiar turn of events, a US military pilot found himself in an unusual situation after ejecting from his F-35 fighter jet over Charleston, South Carolina, on 17 September. The pilot, who remains anonymous, initiated the ejection due to an “aircraft failure” while flying over the city.
As fate would have it, he landed in a local resident’s backyard, prompting both the pilot and the bewildered homeowner to dial 911 urgently. The reason for the emergency call? The pilot reported injuring his back during the ejection.
In their frantic attempts to convey the situation to the operator, the resident explained, “We got a pilot in the house, and I guess he landed in my backyard, and we’re trying to see if we could get an ambulance to the house, please.”
The 47-year-old pilot, who had parachuted down from approximately 2,000 feet, provided additional details, stating, “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.”
Eventually, the injured pilot received medical attention at a hospital. However, it took authorities over 24 hours to locate the F-35 fighter jet. Remarkably, the aircraft continued flying for 60 miles after the pilot’s ejection, finally crashing in a rural area of Williamsburg County, approximately two hours northeast of the military base in Charleston.
Residents were advised to steer clear of the crash site while a recovery team worked to secure it.
The Marine Corps, which operates the F-35, noted that the jet’s value was estimated at a whopping $100 million. They speculated that the aircraft’s advanced safety systems might have played a role in its continued flight after the pilot’s ejection. These systems are designed to assist and protect pilots in situations where they may be incapacitated or lose situational awareness.
The Marines explained, “If the jet is stable in level flight, the jet will attempt to stay there.”
Fortunately, the aircraft avoided crashing into a densely populated area, a stroke of luck that was undoubtedly welcome.
Social media erupted with footage of the plane flying over South Carolina before its eventual crash, leading to questions about why it took authorities so long to locate it. The Marines explained that the jet possessed features to erase secure communications upon ejection, designed to protect the pilot’s location and classified systems. However, this feature may have complicated efforts to locate the jet.
The incident remains under investigation, with results from an official review board expected to be available in the coming months.