USMC F-35B crashes near MCAS Beaufort. Pilot ejected safely

USMC F-35B crashes near MCAS Beaufort. Pilot ejected safely

By Dario Leone
Sep 28 2018
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This F-35B crash is the first one for the U.S. military’s newest and most expensive aircraft

A U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B has crashed in coastal South Carolina, on Sep. 28, 2018. According to CBS the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said the crash was reported about 11:45 a.m. near the Grays Hill community.

Noteworthy this Lightning II crash is the first one for the U.S. military’s newest and most expensive aircraft.

The sheriff’s office said in a tweet that the pilot ejected safely. It wasn’t immediately clear if the pilot was injured.

The crash took place about 4 miles west of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort.

The crash comes after that an F-35C attached to VFA-125 was forced to divert to Fresno Yosemite International Airport after an indicator lighted up in the cockpit on Sep. 24.

An F-35C assigned to VFA-125 ingested debris from an aerial refueling basket while receiving fuel from an F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-103 on Aug. 22.

The pilot recovered the aircraft back aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).

Naval Air Forces Atlantic spokesman Cmdr. Dave Hecht said that damage to the F-35C was reported as a Class A mishap – the most serious type for a military aircraft.

That same day a U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-35A experienced a nose gear malfunction at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB). The aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency and returned to base. The Lightning II landed safely and parked when the front nose gear collapsed.

As previously reported the USMC F-35B conducted its first combat strikes in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan, on Sep. 27.

USMC F-35B crashes near MCAS Beaufort. Pilot ejected safely
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-35B Lightning II VMFA-121 Green Knights, VK00, 169164 / 2015

Photo credit: Sam Richardson via Twitter

Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com


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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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