Have you seen a missing $80 million fighter jet?

U.S. military officials requested the public’s assistance locating a missing F-35 stealth fighter jet that disappeared somewhere over North Charleston, South Carolina.

“We’re working with @MCASBeaufortSC to locate an F-35 that was involved in a mishap this afternoon. The pilot ejected safely. If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35,” Joint Base Charleston wrote Sunday.

“Based on the jet’s last-known position and in coordination with the FAA, we are focusing our attention north of JB Charleston, around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion.”

The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a local medical center after the “mishap.”

Officials deployed emergency response teams to locate the missing fighter jet.

“The public is asked to cooperate with military and civilian authorities as the effort continues,” the base said in a statement on Facebook.

Joint Base Charleston posted to Facebook:

Personnel from Joint Base Charleston and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort(MCAS Beaufort SC)are responding to a mishap involving an F-35B Lightning II jet from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The pilot ejected safely and was transferred to a local medical center in stable condition. Emergency response teams are still trying to locate the F-35.

The public is asked to cooperate with military and civilian authorities as the effort continues.

If you have any information that would assist the recovery teams, please call the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Public Affairs Office at 252-466-3827.

The pilot reportedly landed in a North Charleston residential neighborhood.

AVGeekery.com noted:

A Marine Corps F-35B pilot safely ejected from his stealth fighter jet this afternoon next to Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Details are few as of now, but base PA has confirmed the incident.

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Radio chatter said the pilot ejected at just a few thousand feet above the ground, with last radar contact a few miles northeast of Lake Moultrie. The pilot made it out safely, and then showed up a few miles away in a backyard of a residential neighborhood in North Charleston. The weather was horrible at the time of the accident, but unclear if that played any part.

This story is developing. 

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