A pilot training in one of America's most expensive weapons systems ejected over South Carolina. Officials can't find the F-35 he was flying.
Business InsiderSep 18, 2023
The Facts
The US military said on Monday evening that the debris of a missing F-35 fighter jet had been discovered in South Carolina, one day after the Marine Corps mysteriously lost track of it.
The discovery comes after officials at Joint Base Charleston asked the public to "locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap." The jet's pilot, who ejected safely, is reportedly receiving medical care.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
It's ridiculous that the US military lost an ultra-high-tech fighter jet and were forced to turn to the public to find it, rather than use a tracking device. The fact that civilians had been tasked with locating the most advanced and lethal fighter jet in the world calls the competency of the military authorities into question.
Pro-establishment narrative
The F-35s are designed to be difficult to detect, and their anti-radar capabilities are one of the key reasons they are enlisted in the US military. While it may be frustrating that the stealthy jet couldn't be tracked, it's also testament to the efficacy of the technology, as the jet proved undetectable while airborne.
