The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing released its command investigation on Thursday into how an F-35B fighter jet crashed with its transponder off and went missing in South Carolina last year. The report concludes that the pilot incorrectly determined that the F-35 was out of control and ejected from the plane too soon. The jet flew for 11 minutes and 21 seconds after the ejection before crashing.
The pilot attempted to land the F-35 at Joint Base Charleston using instruments during a heavy thunderstorm on September 17, 2023. The ejection happened during a climb-out after a missed approach. The Marine Corps found that an electrical malfunction occurred during the flight, causing the helmet-mounted display and panoramic cockpit display to shut off at least three times. This malfunction also took out the tactical air navigation system, the instrument landing system, both radios and the transponder. However, the USMC deemed the plane was still flyable. A release summary states:
“The investigation concluded that the mishap occurred due to pilot error. The pilot incorrectly diagnosed an out-of-controlled flight emergency and ejected from a flyable aircraft, albeit during a heavy rainstorm compounded with aircraft electrical and display malfunctions.”
How flyable was the F-35B? The jet flew for 73.6 miles before crashing into a rural area. The investigation found that the plane stayed airborne for so long with no one at the controls because of its advanced flight control systems. However, the plane’s failed transponder and radar-avoiding stealth technology meant the crash site could not be found until the next day.
The F-35 has garnered a reputation for being an overpriced, faulty fighter jet. The investigation recommended that no punitive actions be taken against the pilot. However, this doesn’t mean that military pilots should eject at the first possible sign of trouble. This would have been a completely different report if the jet had flown unmanned into a residential area.