ABC News reported that debris has been found in South Carolina during the search for the F-35 fighter jet that went missing on Sunday. U.S. Representative Nancy Mace previously announced that U.S. military officials still do not know where the missing F-35 is located in South Carolina since Sunday. On Monday, the representative stated that she met with representatives of the U.S. Marine Corps regarding the incident but the military has no information about the aircraft. She wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "No one knows if the F-35 is in the air or under the water."
Reports indicated that the search area has been narrowed down to a specific geographical region in South Carolina, noting that the aircraft completed its flight path on autopilot after the pilot ejected with a parachute. There have been social media rumors suggesting that the aircraft was controlled by outside forces, specifically Chinese, and that it landed in Cuba. However, these rumors are unsubstantiated, and search and aerial survey operations continue with the assistance of military sectors and the Civil Aviation Authority.
“We appreciate the support we’ve received from our mission partners and every organization involved, as integrated teams are searching and preparing for the recovery of the jet,” said Joint Base Charleston on X.
Additionally, Eric Smith, the acting commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a decision on Monday to halt operations for two days for all aviation units both within and outside the United States, as reported by ABC News. The commander stated in an email that no Marine units are permitted to fly until discussions on safety measures and protocols take place for two days. Smith affirmed his full trust in the aviation units but insisted that this is the "right and prudent" action to take in light of this incident and a recent event that occurred in Australia.
