An RAF pilot was pressured to eject over the Mediterranean yesterday, sending his £100million stealth jet crashing into the ocean.
Quickly after taking off on ‘routine train’ from the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth plane service, the F-35B Lightning ditched into the ocean and a rescue group was despatched out to get better the pilot.
By plunging into worldwide waters, the crash triggered a scramble to get better the next-generation jet from the ocean mattress earlier than it may very well be reached by international powers, notably Russia.
The operation, shrouded in secrecy, is known to contain divers and miniature submarines.
The plane was situated yesterday afternoon and the location on the ocean mattress might be manned by a dive safety group – a joint UK-US particular forces operation – till the jet is lifted to the floor.
An RAF pilot was pressured to eject over the Mediterranean yesterday, sending his £100million stealth jet crashing into the ocean
It’s thought there was a large space of sea to scour because the plane might need not less than partially damaged up on influence.
The know-how aboard the US-designed plane, together with prime secret radar and sensors, is massively delicate because it permits the F-35 to fly ‘unseen’ in hostile territory at supersonic speeds.
Britain’s most superior and costly jets, the single-seater can land vertically and requires solely a brief runway to take off. It’s the first one Britain has misplaced.
Retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry stated final night time: ‘Though an inquiry will set up the exact reason behind the crash, it seems probably that the accident occurred due to engine malfunction.
‘Regardless of the F-35B’s good security file, it was inevitable that a few of these high-performance plane, which function within the distinctly demanding maritime surroundings, would have been misplaced at some stage.’
The Ministry of Defence insisted final night time ‘no hostile motion’ was concerned within the crash. Final night time, the investigation was specializing in technical or human error.
The pilot, who suffered minor accidents, is known to have been rescued by helicopter.
Quickly after taking off on ‘routine train’ from the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth plane service, the F-35B Lightning (file picture) ditched into the ocean and a rescue group was despatched out to get better the pilot
The pilot’s household was knowledgeable of the crash earlier than army chiefs launched a press release yesterday afternoon in regards to the incident.
The incident is the primary mishap for the RAF’s F-35B fleet and for the plane service – the most important and strongest vessel ever constructed for the Navy – which left Britain seven months in the past.
Having sailed to the Far East and attracted the eye of each Russia and China, the £3billion Queen Elizabeth was final recognized to have been within the japanese Mediterranean, after leaving Oman.
The Prince of Wales is because of go to the service tomorrow as a part of a royal tour to Egypt.
The Lightning is described by the RAF as a fifth technology fight plane able to conducting air-to-surface strikes and digital warfare.
The plane makes use of an array of sensors to function undetected in enemy airspace.
There have been understood to be not solely eight British F-35s aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth but in addition ten US plane.
By plunging into worldwide waters, the crash triggered a scramble to get better the next-generation jet from the ocean mattress earlier than it may very well be reached by international powers, notably Russia. Above: File picture of HMS Queen Elizabeth
They’ve carried out some 2,000 take-offs and landings with out incident. When not deployed on the service, the UK’s F-35Bs are stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk as a part of 617 Squadron (the ‘Dambusters’).
The crash raises contemporary questions in regards to the F-35B, beforehand grounded by the Pentagon resulting from a gasoline tube fault.
In 2020, US army assessments discovered 276 totally different faults within the jet’s fight system.
Final night time the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated: ‘The F-35 ditched quickly after take off. We’re happy the pilot is protected and again on board. Our operational and coaching flights proceed.’
The Ministry of Defence stated: ‘A British F-35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth ejected throughout routine flying operations within the Mediterranean this morning.
‘The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it might be inappropriate to remark additional right now. No different vessels or plane have been concerned.’
A complete army air investigation has been launched by the RAF and US consultants.