F-35 fighter jet went down in S.C. Finding it proved difficult

The F-35’s stealth is touted as one of the fighter jet’s marquee features and is usually beneficial for the U.S. military. That is, until it loses one of the planes. 

A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jet went down near Joint Base Charleston, S.C., on Sunday afternoon, and the pilot ejected safely and was in stable condition, the base said. Officials found the missing jet’s debris field Monday evening in Williamsburg County, about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston. But for about 24 hours, responders weren’t sure where the plane ended up. The jet’s transponder, which usually helps locate the aircraft, may not have been working “for some reason that we haven’t yet determined,” said Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston. “So that’s why we put out the public re...