For the third time the U.S. is planning a salvage mission for an F-35 that has crashed into the sea. In April of 2019, a Japanese F-35A crashed into the Pacific Ocean killing the pilot and leaving behind only debris. In November of 2021, a UK F-35B crashed into the Mediterranean during takeoff and was recently recovered during a secret operation. That pilot was able to eject safely.
This is the wreckage of a British #F35B fighter salvaged from the #Mediterranean. pic.twitter.com/yH2tubCCJ3
— Military Armed Forces (@Military9Army) January 21, 2022
Now the U.S. Navy is in a race to pull an F-35C from the bottom of the South China Sea after it crash landed aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). The incident took place on Monday and six sailors and the pilot, who safely ejected, were injured. Maritime experts have said it could take 10 days or more to get a salvage ship on location to retrieve the $100 million dollar stealth jet packed with classified technology, leaving a window of opportunity for China. The Guardian writes abridged:
🇺🇲⚡ Unconfirmed video of the F-35 Crash(Moments before the crash) in the South China Sea a few days ago. #USA pic.twitter.com/vPvEYj1iOH
— Alex kennedy (@Alexkennedy30) January 28, 2022
Fears that subs from China, which claims the area, could be first to reach wreckage that plunged from deck of aircraft carrier
The US navy is racing to salvage an F-35C fighter jet from the bottom of the South China Sea after it crashed on an aircraft carrier and plunged overboard – taking with it highly classified technology that would be a coup if China retrieved it first.
The F-35C crashed-landed on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson during routine operations on Monday, the navy said, injuring six sailors and the pilot, who ejected from the plane before it fell into the sea.
US🇱🇷 races to retrieve crashed F-35 before China can seize it’s most advanced jet. pic.twitter.com/e6JINm7mNh
— Karan Yadav (@Karanofficle) January 29, 2022
The most advanced US fighter, a stealth plane costing over $100m, is packed with highly classified technology and if found would represent an intelligence boon for China, which claims almost all of the South China Sea as its own territory. The Vinson was on a patrol intended to challenge that territorial claim and defend international freedom of navigation.
The F-35C is a version of the plane specially designed to operate from aircraft carriers. Maritime experts have said it could take a US salvage ship more than 10 days to reach the site of the crash, potentially giving Chinese submarines the opportunity to find it first.
