FIELD DAY

Debris Field Found in Search for Missing F-35 Fighter Jet

The U.S. Marine Corps also announced a two-day stand-down for all its fighter jets Monday as an investigation continued into the missing aircraft.

A debris field was found in South Carolina during the hunt for a F-35 stealth fighter jet that went missing after a “mishap” on Sunday, military officials said on Monday evening. The debris was found in Williamsburg County, some two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston, which is “transferring incident command to the [U.S. Marine Corps] this evening, as they begin the recovery process,” the service said in a news release. Members of the public were warned to avoid the area as the recovery effort continues. The discovery comes hours after the Marine Corps announced a two-day stand-down for all its fighter jets as the investigation into the missing aircraft continues. Marine Corps commandant Eric Smith said that it was the “right and prudent” thing to do, according to ABC News. On Sunday, the jet’s pilot put the plane on autopilot and ejected, landing safely in a North Charleston neighborhood. “The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process,” the Marines said on Monday.