US Navy working to recover F-35 warplane that fell into South China Sea
WASHINGTON: The US Navy said on Tuesday (Jan 25) it was making arrangements to recover an F-35C warplane that fell into the South China Sea after a landing mishap this week.
Seven US military personnel were hurt in Monday's accident
on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and the pilot ejected, the
navy said.
"I can confirm the aircraft impacted the flight deck
during landing and subsequently fell to the water," said Lieutenant
Nicholas Lingo, spokesperson for the US 7th Fleet.
"The US Navy is making recovery operations arrangements
for the F-35C aircraft."
Asked about an unsourced media report suggesting there were
fears that the aircraft could fall into the hands of China, which claims most
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 carrier in just over two months.
An F-35 from Britain's HMS Queen Elizabeth crashed into the
Mediterranean Sea in November, though the pilot ejected and was safely returned
to the ship. Britain's Ministry of Defence said that aircraft was subsequently
recovered.
Earlier this month, a South Korean F-35A fighter made an
emergency landing during training.
In April 2019, a Japanese F-35 stealth fighter crashed in
the Pacific Ocean close to northern Japan, killing the pilot.
The US Navy said the pilot ejected safely in Monday's
incident, but was among the soldiers hurt.
The Pentagon says two Carrier Strike Groups, led by the Carl
Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln, began operations in the South China Sea on
Sunday.
They entered the disputed sea for training as Taiwan
reported a new Chinese air force incursion at the top of the waterway.
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