A newly released audio file shows that the Marine Corps reported their missing F-35 jet. According to the released audio files, the Marine Corps frantically called 911 after losing one of its fighter jets in an airborne “mishap” in South Carolina last September.
According to military authorities, the F-35 went missing over the skies of the state’s Lowcountry region on September 17, 2023. The $90 million stealth jet went missing after it safely ejected the pilot who parachuted down a residential neighborhood in North Charleston.
However, the F-35 continued flying unmanned into the unknown as it disappeared from view. Therefore, officials tried to track down its location. According to the newly released audio tape, a major from the Beaufort station called 911 to report the incident.
“I believe we potentially have an aircraft that went down in Williamsburg County earlier today,” a Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort major told a Williamsburg County 911 dispatcher. “You believe you have an aircraft that went down in Williamsburg County?” the dispatcher asked in response.
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“That is correct,” the major replied. “We are trying to look for it, and we are coming up dry so far.” It was previously unclear whether or not the plane’s transponder was functioning correctly. However, the audio files show that the Marine Corps provided coordinates of where they believed the jet went down.
In addition, the audio shows that the dispatcher immediately requested a medical crew to the area for the pilot. However, he later called them off after learning the pilot had ejected and landed safely. The Williamsburg County dispatch audios show further confusion in the emergency response.
911 dispatchers in South Carolina received a report from a resident who reported having a pilot on his property. “We got a pilot in the house, and I guess he landed in my backyard,” the homeowner told the dispatcher. “And we’re trying to see if we can get an ambulance to the house, please.”
The audio files show the dispatcher spoke to the pilot, who said he felt “OK” after parachuting roughly 2,000 feet to the ground. However, he complained that his back hurt. Also, the whereabouts of the remains of the jet confused them due to limited information at the time.
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“If it’s military and they’ve got a helicopter, they’ll find it quicker than us,” one official said. “They’ve got more resources than we do.” Afterward, the Marine Corps provided the Williamsburg County emergency officials with updated grid coordinates. They mapped out a list of locations where the jet may have crash-landed.
The day after the crash, officials located a field of debris. The field was in a rural area near Williamsburg and Florence counties, about 75 miles from where the pilot landed. The cause of the crash, which led to a nearly $100 million loss, remains unknown. However, it is under investigation by the Marine Corps.
The agency announced in September 2023 that the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing would conduct the investigation. Also, officials called the incident a “mishap,” stating the inquiry would likely continue for several months.
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