The US Navy mentioned on Tuesday it was making preparations to recuperate an F-35C warplane that fell into the South China Sea after a touchdown mishap this week.
Seven US navy personnel have been harm in Monday’s accident on the deck of the plane provider USS Carl Vinson and the pilot ejected, the Navy mentioned.
“I can confirm the aircraft impacted the flight deck during landing and subsequently fell to the water,” mentioned Lieutenant Nicholas Lingo, spokesperson for the US seventh Fleet. “The US Navy is making recovery operations arrangements for the F-35C aircraft.”
Asked about an unsourced media report suggesting there have been fears that the plane may fall into the palms of China, which claims a lot of the South China Sea, Lingo replied, referring to the People’s Republic of China: “We cannot speculate on what the PRC’s intentions are on this matter.”
It was the second crash involving an F-35, which is made by Lockheed Martin, and a provider in simply over two months. An F-35 from Britain’s HMS Queen Elizabeth crashed into the Mediterranean Sea in November, although the pilot ejected and was safely returned to the ship. Britain’s Ministry of Defence mentioned that plane was subsequently recovered.
Earlier this month, a South Korean F-35A fighter made an emergency touchdown throughout coaching. In April 2019, a Japanese F-35 stealth fighter crashed within the Pacific Ocean near northern Japan, killing the pilot.
The US Navy mentioned the pilot ejected safely in Monday’s incident, however was among the many personnel harm.
The Pentagon says two Carrier Strike Groups, led by the Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln, started operations within the South China Sea on Sunday. They entered the disputed sea for coaching as Taiwan reported a brand new Chinese air drive incursion on the high of the waterway.
Lockheed Martin, which makes F-35 jets, reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue on Tuesday.
