The debris of a Marine Corps F-35 fighter jet that went missing when its pilot ejected during a “mishap” has been found in a South Carolina field after a day-long search.
Officials with Joint Base Charleston confirmed that debris from the jet had been located in the Indiantown area of Williamsburg County, reported TV station WCBD.
Joint Base Charleston said the incident involved an F-35B Lightning II jet from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Officials said in a statement on Monday evening that the debris was located two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston.
“Members of the community should avoid the area as the recovery team secures the debris field,” the statement read.
“The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process. We would like to thank all of our mission partners, as well as local, county, and state authorities, for their dedication and support throughout the search and as we transition to the recovery phase.”