In the past month, three Class A aviation accidents have shaken the U.S. Marine Corps Air Force, prompting a two-day grounding for all aviation units to discuss flight safety issues.
On September 18, U.S. local time, the U.S. Marine Corps announced that the wreckage of the crashed F-35B stealth fighter was located approximately two hours’ drive northeast of Joint Base Charleston. On the 17th, it was reported that an F-35B stealth fighter crashed in South Carolina that afternoon. The pilot ejected safely, but the wreckage of the aircraft had yet to be found.
Two F-35 fighters were reportedly conducting tandem flight training at the time of the incident, and the pilot of the other aircraft safely returned to Joint Base Charleston. The parachute of the pilot of the crashed jet landed in a residential area of North Charleston, and he was subsequently taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Both aircraft and their pilots were assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, based approximately 112 kilometers southwest of Joint Base Charleston at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Military officials are currently investigating the cause of the crash.
Following the accident, there was a puzzling development: the pilot’s ejection site had no sign of the aircraft wreckage. Heather Stanton, an official from Joint Base Charleston, stated that the search for the plane’s debris mainly focused on the areas around Moultrie Lake and Marion Lake, both north of North Charleston. The base had posted on social media about an “unfortunate accident” involving an F-35, urging the public to provide clues that might help locate the crash site. Stanton mentioned that once the weather conditions improved, a helicopter from South Carolina law enforcement joined the search.
Analysts speculate that the aircraft’s engine might still have been running when the pilot ejected, which could have caused the plane to continue flying unmanned. There was a similar bizarre incident during the Cold War in 1989: a Soviet Air Force MiG-23 suffered an accident during training over Poland. The pilot ejected, but the jet didn’t crash immediately. It flew unmanned across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and other countries before crashing in Belgium, covering about 900 kilometers.
The F-35B is a vertical landing and take-off variant of the F-35 stealth fighter family, equipped with advanced avionic and weapons systems, making it one of the most cutting-edge aircraft in the world. Since its service introduction, there have been four crashes involving the F-35B.
Given the complexity of vertical landing systems, the demands on pilots are higher, leading to a historically higher rate of accidents for such models. Military expert Han Dong stated, “The causes of this crash, whether mechanical issues, pilot error, or weather conditions, are yet to be determined, but it’s something we should continue to monitor closely.”
Including the recent F-35B crash, the U.S. Marine Corps Air Force has suffered three Class A aviation accidents (those resulting in death or more than $2.5 million in damages) in just one month. After the F-35B crash, U.S. officials ordered a suspension of all flights until a two-day discussion on safety measures and procedures could take place. Acting commander General Eric Smith urged the aviation department to discuss safety protocols. An official statement emphasized that the safety stand-down would focus on flight operations, ground safety, maintenance, and flight procedures, among other core readiness principles.
General Smith stated, “During the flight suspension, we’ll devote time and energy to reinforce established policies, practices, and procedures to protect our Marines and sailors, ensuring the Marine Corps remains a ready and well-trained combat force.”
The U.S. Marine Corps is currently undergoing a transformation to adapt to the challenges of great power competition. This June, they revealed a new “Force Design 2030” plan, focusing on unmanned equipment, long-range missiles, and the development of aviation troops. Han Dong believes that after the transformation, the role of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Force will be even more prominent. “Three major military aircraft accidents in less than a month, involving three core types of Marine Corps, is not normal. There might be issues with training procedures and management,” Han Dong added.
Source: The Paper
