F-35C havariet - Oppdatering - The War Zone

 

An F-35C prepares to launch off the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson while a second prepares to launch off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 22, 2022, in the Philippine Sea. Joseph Trevithick's Articles

JOSEPH TREVITHICK 

@FranticGoat

The U.S. Navy says it is assessing its options for recovering an F-35C Joint Strike Strike Fighter that fell into the South China Sea yesterday after a failed landing attempt on board the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. The service is almost certain to try to retrieve as much of the jet as possible to prevent sensitive components, and the information about aircraft's advanced capabilities that might be gleaned from them, from falling into the hands of America's competitors, such as Russia or China.

The U.S. Seventh Fleet, headquartered in Japan, confirmed that the F-35C had fallen off Carl Vinson's deck as a result of the accident in a statement this morning. The U.S. Pacific Fleet's public affairs office had previously declined to confirm or deny that detail. 

UA US Navy F-35C Joint Strike Fighter comes in to land on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in January 2022.

"I can confirm the aircraft impacted the flight deck during landing and subsequently fell to the water," Navy Lt. Mark Langford, a Seventh Fleet spokesperson, said. "No additional information is available at this time."

Landford also provided additional details about the mishap itself and the resulting casualties. 

"Seven total personnel were injured, including the pilot. The pilot and two other Sailors were MEDEVAC'd to a medical treatment facility in Manila, Philippines, and four Sailors were treated by on-board medical personnel," he explained. "All injured Sailors have been reported to [have] recovered or [are] in stable condition."

"Impact to the flight deck was superficial and all equipment for flight operations is operational," he added. "Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) have resumed routine flight operations in the South China Sea."

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Exactly how the accident occurred remains unclear. The Navy has not yet provided any official details, saying the matter is still under investigation.

Lt. Langford's statement also did not provide any details about what plans the Navy might have now for attempting to recover the F-35C. However, The Associated Press has reported that he had told them that “the status and recovery of the aircraft is currently under investigation." The War Zone has already reached out to Seventh Fleet for more information.