Prince Charles has today been forced to cancel his visit to the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier as the Royal Navy scrambles to find a missing £100million fighter jet after it crashed seconds after take-off.

As Charles and Camilla tour Egypt, their ship is currently in the Mediterranean Sea, circling an area to try and find the F-35B Lightning II plane.

Yesterday, The Heir to the Crown, Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall and her husband, were due to fly by helicopter to The Great Sphinx. However, it was canceled for “operational reasons”. 

Charles and Camilla were royal tourists yesterday. The stunning Pyramids of Giza were on the couple’s Middle East trip. They visited Cairo to see them. 

The couple walked carefully up several steep steps hewn out of the side of the 454ft high pyramid called Khufu – or the Pyramid of Cheops – tomb of a pharaoh. The two-million blocks are each 50 tons in weight.

Britain has called on the US to help find and salvage a fighter jet that crashed into the Mediterranean after its pilot ejected shortly after take off. Royal Navy servicemen are working with the Americans to recover the F-35B from more than a mile below the surface. 

The UK is believed to have the equipment and manpower to rescue the destroyed £100million aircraft but their Nato allies were reportedly closer. 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East. Today Charles was meant to visit the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier but has cancelled after a £100m plane crashed into the sea

On the third day in their Middle East tour, the Prince of Wales (left) and the Duchess Of Cornwall (right), visited the Great Sphinx at Giza. Today Charles was meant to visit the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier but has cancelled after a £100m plane crashed into the sea

An RAF pilot was forced to eject over the Mediterranean yesterday, sending his £100million stealth jet crashing into the sea

An RAF pilot was forced to eject over the Mediterranean yesterday, sending his £100million stealth jet crashing into the sea

Mini-submarine vehicles can be used to locate F-35, before inflatable bags bring it to the surface 

According to US officials, the US is helping to salvage the plane.

While the UK does have its own operation team, the American team with their equipment is closer to the scene of the accident.

Inflatable lift bags are manufactured by US firm Subsalve

Subsalve, a US-based manufacturer of inflatable lift bags, manufactures them

The Times quotes navy sources as saying that the F-35 will likely be found using deep-water remote-controlled vessels. Then, huge inflatable bags will be attached to the F-35 so it can rise to the surface by itself.

It is however likely to take a very long time to reach its destination, as it lies more than one mile below the Mediterranean’s surface.

Subsalve, a US company produces what it calls ‘underwater Lift Bags’. 

Bags made by the firm have been used in US Navy operations. The company lists on their website models which are capable of lifting items up to 48 tonnes. When carrying weapons or its pilot, the F-35 can weigh up to 30tonnes.

The aircraft is still not found but the US Navy uses a TPL-25 tow pinger locator device to locate the F-35’s emergency relocate pinger.

TPL-25 is composed of a device that’s towed behind an underwater search boat. It detects a signal from pingers at depths up to 20,000 feet (3.8miles).

Royal Navy Source to The Times: While the task of recovering an aircraft is not difficult, The Times reports that the difficulty is in locating and getting to it.

Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System, also known as FADOSS (Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System) can be used by the US Navy.

The navy has posted a page on its website that the device can be used to recover large, heavy, sunken and large objects, such as planes or small boats.

The device was used by the US Navy to raise a Canadian helicopter out of the water in March.

The Royal Navy were racing towards the crash site amid fears Russia will try to grab the jet which is packed with top secret technology.

It is believed that divers, mini submarines, and inflatable bags will be involved in the operation. These could possibly lift the aircraft to the Mediterranean surface.  

US officials are concerned that Russia and its allies will not save the top-secret technology of the plane. They would like to examine the stealth technology in detail to determine a method of defeating it. 

After Ankara claimed it would be using a Russian missile defense system, former President Donald Trump stopped the transfer of four F-35A aircraft to Turkey. 

Russian technicolor was not allowed to examine the radar profile of an attack plane or look at its technology, according to Pentagon.  

After taking off from HMS Queen Elizabeth yesterday, a pilot in the RAF was forced from his aircraft and plunged into the ocean.

He was seen hanging off the HMS Queen Elizabeth edge, his parachute line caught against the edge. 

The crash caused international panic as the plane plunged into international waters. This triggered an effort to locate the next-generation aircraft before foreign governments could reach it. The F35B crashed into such an area for the first time.

It is extremely sensitive because the F-35 can fly in hostile terrain at hypersonic speed thanks to the technology that was built by the US.

New questions are raised by this week’s F-35B crash, which Britain currently owns 24. 

The UK is set to buy 138 of the fighter jets from US aviation giant Lockheed Martin for £9.1billion in the coming years.

In June 2014 a USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor which saw it turn into a blaze as it took off in Florida. A fire in the weapons bay of a USMC F-35B caused it to catch on fire mid-flight two years later.

The US was the most populous country in 2018, with a staggering 67 percent. After a fighter jet collided in South Carolina, a pilot on the F-35B was forced to flee mid-air during an exercise.

An even more impressive achievement was last year. USNI News reported that F-35B plane crashed in California near Naval Air Facility El Centro after hitting a KC-130J..

According to US officials, the US is helping to salvage the plane.

The UK is equipped with a team that can perform the operations, but the American team has their own machinery and are closer to the site of the incident.

The Times claims that navy sources have indicated that deep-water remote-controlled boats will be involved in the search for the F-35. They’ll attach large inflatable bags to them so it can rise up on its own.

It is however likely to take a very long time to reach its destination, as it lies more than one mile below the Mediterranean’s surface.

The US Navy is able to make use of winch system called a Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System (FADOSS), which is pictured above

Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System (FADOSS) is an American Navy winch system that can be used by the Navy. It is shown above.

Whilst the aircraft has not yet been found, the US Navy is using device called a TPL-25 towed pinger locator (pictured system to find the F-35's emergency relocation pinger

The US Navy has a device known as a TPL-25 tow pinger locator, which is used by the Navy to locate the F-35’s emergency relocate pinger.

A U.S. Navy-owned research vessel, deploys the cable-controlled Undersea Recovery Vehicle (CURV-21) off the coast of Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. The CURV is designed to meet the U.S. Navy's deep ocean recovery requirements down to a maximum depth of 20,000 feet

The U.S. Navy’s research ship, Comodoro Rivadavia (Argentina), deploys the cable-controlled Undersea Recovery Vehicle 21 (CURV-21). CURV was designed to fulfill the deep-ocean recovery needs of the U.S Navy down to maximum depths of 20,000 feet.

Soon after taking off on 'routine exercise' from the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, the F-35B Lightning (file image) ditched into the sea and a rescue team was sent out to recover the pilot

The F-35B Lightning, file image), crashed into the ocean shortly after it took off for a routine exercise from HMS Queen Elizabeth (royal navy’s flagship aircraft carrier). A rescue team was then sent to the area to find the pilot. 

RAF F-35 Med crash was SEVENTH time £100m jets have malfunctioned in seven years

June 23, 2014: USAF F-35A suffered a devastating engine fire due to a cracked rotor. It took off from Florida in a blaze.

October 27, 2016, A US Marine Corp F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay before the pilot landed safely in Beaufort, South Carolina.

September 28, 2018 All F-35s on the ground were grounded during an investigation into why the fuel tube burst after a horrible crash at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort (South Carolina).

April 9, 2019, A portion of the tail from a Japanese F-35 was found around 85 miles east Misawa in the ocean during a training mission.

April 19. 2020: Fatigued and distracted pilots caused the F-35’s crash upon landing.

September 20th, 2020 A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California.

September 20, 2020: A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California

September 20, 2020: An F-35 stealth fighter plane fell from the sky after colliding with a KC-130J oiler. The collision occurred mid-air near the Salton Sea, Imperial County, California. 

Subsalve, a US company produces what it calls ‘underwater Lift Bags’. 

It has designed bags for US Navy personnel and offers models which can carry up to 48 tons of weight. When carrying its weapons and pilot, the F-35 can weigh up to 30tonnes.  

The aircraft is still not found but the US Navy uses a TPL-25 tow pinger locator device to locate the F-35’s emergency relocate pinger.

TPL-25 systems consist of a device that is to be towed behind the vessel. The device can locate pingers at depths up to 20,000 feet (3.8 miles). 

Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System (FADOSS) is also available to the US Navy.

The navy has posted a page on its website that the device can be used to recover large, heavy, sunken and bulky objects, such as planes or small boats.

The device was used by the US Navy to raise a Canadian helicopter out of the water in March.

A Royal Navy source told the Times: ‘A number of nations have the capability to recover an aircraft from that depth. The Americans have offered their assistance. We asked them.

The military was still trying to find the exact location of the plane’s downing and is gathering all the necessary equipment to retrieve it. 

Britain and the United Kingdom are currently in the vicinity of the suspicious area, trying to prevent the secretive plane from falling into the hands or equipment that is not believed to be nearby.

The source said bringing the plane back to the surface was ‘not rocket science’ but ‘the problem is finding and getting to it — you need a machine that can get to that depth’. 

It is possible that the plane may have gone under the water to another area, which could raise concerns about where it might be. They added: ‘We know the vicinity but we need to find it and attach floating devices to it.’

Following his ejection, the rockets in his plane seat shot him up to more than 100ft before his parachute opened. 

F-35 pilot was left hanging from the flight deck following his ejection 

Unnamed pilot, who was ejected from F-35’s ill-fated F-35 aircraft, was left hanging left from HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier from which he had taken off.

Before his parachute was opened, he felt the blast of rockets from his seat in the plane. 

According to The Sun, however, the source said that the pilot landed back towards the warship and was ‘within inches’ of striking the flight deck. 

A cross-wind allegedly blew him instead, and his parachute lines became stuck on the runway’s edge at 900ft. 

The pilot, who was quick to think of alternatives, was left hanging from the warship’s edge at 60 feet above the sea. 

He pulled an escape button, which freed him from his harness. Then he plunged into water.   

Sources said that he made the right decision. 

“We train to land in water.” It is not a good idea to become entangled in parachute lines and be dragged by a warship 65,000 tonnes.

The search and rescue helicopter then was used to pull him from the water. 

However, The Sun was told by a source that pilot floated down toward the warship. He ‘came within inches of hitting’ the flight deck. 

A cross-wind allegedly blew him instead, and his parachute lines became stuck on the runway’s edge at the end of the 900 foot long runway. 

The pilot, who was quick to think of alternatives, was left hanging from the warship’s edge at 60 feet above the sea. 

He pulled an escape button, which freed him from his harness. Then he plunged into water.   

Sources said that he made the right decision. 

“We train to land in water.” It is not a good idea to become entangled in parachute lines and be dragged by a warship 65,000 tonnes. 

As the UK’s most advanced and expensive jet, the single-seater can land vertically and only needs a short runway to take off.

It is the first one Britain has lost and the incident is the first mishap for the RAF’s F-35B fleet and for the £3billion aircraft carrier which left the UK seven months ago. 

Howard Dyer (a consultant in regulatory aviation) told MailOnline that today’s military aircraft do not need to be built to the same standard as civilian planes because they don’t fall within international standards.

“Everyone who works in civil aviation has to adhere to the same rules. The same rules do not apply to military plans that are prepared by governments and have government officials onboard.

“If you see any trash planes, it will be military. The civilian aircrafts that fly over countries are subject to higher standards.

“But military ones can only with permission, or if invading their country or sea.

Chris Parry, a retired Rear Admiral said that although an investigation will determine the exact cause of the crash it seems likely that engine failure caused the accident.

“Despite the F-35B’s excellent safety record, some of these high-performance aircraft that operate in the highly demanding maritime environment would have to be lost some day.”

This map shows the approximate location of where the F-35B stealth jet crashed in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday

This map depicts the exact location where the F-35B stealth aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.

By plunging into international waters, the crash triggered a scramble to recover the next-generation jet from the sea bed before it could be reached by foreign powers, particularly Russia. Above: File image of HMS Queen Elizabeth

The next-generation aircraft crashed into international waters. This triggered an effort to retrieve it from the seabed before any foreign power, especially Russia, could reach it. Above: HMS Queen Elizabeth File Image

Histories re-lived: 1966 Palomares B52 Bomber Crash

In 1966, a USAF B-52G bomber carrying four hydrogen bombs crashed into a KC-135 tanker during mid-air over the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain.

Upon impact, the KC-135 was destroyed and all four crew members aboard were killed. The B-52G was damaged and the crew of three died. 

Meanwhile, the four nuclear bombs fell 31,000 feet to the surface – three of which were found on land near the small fishing village of Palomares in Almeria.

Non-nuclear explosives found in two weapons were blown up on impact. This resulted is radioactive plutonium being deposited in a 0.77-square meter area. 

After a 2-month-long search, the fourth was found intact.   

According to the Ministry of Defence, there were no hostile actions in connection with last night’s crash. The investigation centered on human or technical error last night. 

According to reports, the helicopter rescued the pilot with minor injuries. After the pilot was injured, his family received information about the accident. Yesterday afternoon’s statement by military leaders included details of the event. 

Having sailed to the Far East and attracted the attention of both Russia and China, the £3billion Queen Elizabeth was last known to have been in the eastern Mediterranean, after leaving Oman. 

Tomorrow, the Prince of Wales will visit the carrier as part of his royal trip to Egypt.

The RAF calls the Lightning a fifth-generation combat plane capable of carrying out air-to–surface strikes as well as electronic warfare. 

An array of sensors allows the aircraft to fly undetected within enemy airspace. Not only were there eight F-35s British on HMS Queen Elizabeth; there were also ten US-based aircraft. 

The F-35Bs have performed more than 2,000 takeoffs and landings with no incidents. The F-35Bs of the UK are located at RAF Marham, Norfolk. They can also be deployed to the carrier as part 617 Squadron (the Dambusters’). The US military tested the F-35B’s combat system in 2020 and found 276 faults.

The Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated last night that “the F-35 crashed soon after takeoff.” We’re happy that the pilot was safe and is now back aboard. Operational and training flights are continuing.

The F35s can hover as the come into land meaning the need a smaller flight deck. Pictured, an F-35B fighter jet prepares to land on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Arabian Sea, off Mumbai's coast on October 21

F35s are capable of hovering as they approach land, so a smaller flight deck is required. A F-35B fighter aircraft prepares to take off from HMS Queen Elizabeth, in the Arabian Sea. It was photographed on October 21st.

According to the Ministry of Defence, “A British F-35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth was forced to eject during routine flying operations in Europe this morning.” 

“The pilot is safe and sound, the investigation has started. We are unable to speak further. Other aircraft and vessels were not involved.

Experts from the US and the RAF have conducted a thorough military aviation investigation.

America offered input to the manufacture of the aircraft and encouraged its NATO allies to share the costs. 15% of each jet is made from parts supplied by British companies, while others will be manufactured in Italy.

The planes are still plagued with a variety of issues, which has caused the costs to skyrocket.

It is possible that the technology underpinning this new generation of warplanes could fail, causing them to not function correctly.

The true cost of the British planes delivered this year is estimated to be over £150million each to cover ‘extras’ such as software upgrades and spare parts. It is possible that the software in the aircraft’s computer system could be vulnerable to hackers and it cannot be checked independently by Britain.

It is also hindering the aircraft’s capabilities due to the weak internet connection on HMS Queen Elizabeth, the principal Royal Navy aeroplane carrier.

Although the F-35 cost is the focal point of attention, it has also led to embarrassing reports about operational issues in the United States.

A mock air combat was held in 2015. The cutting-edge aircraft was defeated by an F-16 from the 70s.

Pentagon tested the combat system of jet fighters and found 276 errors in 2020. The 25mm cannon’s excessive vibrating and the problems with the aircraft’s ‘virtual truth’ helmet were among them. There were issues with overheating, premature wear and vulnerability to fire.

The US Air Force has temporarily grounded many of its F-35 stealth aircraft while they investigate an oxygen supply problem.

The Marine Corps, who also operate the same F-35B model the UK has purchased, was forced to ground its planes after flaws were found in the  computer system.

F-35: Faulty flight of the HMS Elizabeth planes

The delivery of the RAF’s new, US-built F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter in July 2021  marked a rare moment of celebration in what has been a troubled project.

Although it is still the most expensive weapon system on earth, the “fifth generation” fighter aircraft has finally stabilized at an astounding $406billion.

After President Donald Trump had criticized the project, Lockheed-Martin offered to limit costs and tweeted his support for another aircraft. 

Britain is currently embarked on a £9.1billion programme to purchase 48 of the F-35s, from American aviation giant Lockheed Martin, by 2025.

One of the first four F-35B Lightning II aircraft arrives at RAF Marham in Norfolk on June 6, 2018

On June 6, 2018, one of four F-35B Lightning II planes arrives at RAF Marham, Norfolk.

America lured NATO and its other allies to contribute towards the production costs of the aircraft. 15 percent of each jet is made of British parts, and some will be built in Italy.

The planes are still plagued with a variety of problems that has caused high costs.

It is possible that the technology underpinning this new generation of war aircrafts could fail, causing them to not function correctly.

The true cost of the British planes delivered this year is estimated to be over £150million each to cover ‘extras’ such as software upgrades and spare parts.

It is also possible that the software on the plane could be vulnerable to hacker attacks and can’t be independently tested by UK.

It is also hindering the aircraft’s capabilities due to the weak internet connection on HMS Queen Elizabeth, the principal Royal Navy aeroplane carrier.

 

 

The problems are not helped by the department responsible for the computer networks essential to the aircraft’s operation needs to find savings of £400 million this year.

After receiving reports on the cost and other issues, the Defence Select Committee launched an investigation into the project.

The Ministry of Defence was reprimanded for keeping Parliament and the public ignorant about costs.

The MoD has so far refused to provide the estimated cost to the UK of buying the F-35, beyond referring to a National Audit Office which used the £9.1billion figure.

MPs declared that it is unacceptable for MoD to withhold information to parliament and public about the estimated cost of the entire programme.

 

 

Although the F-35 cost is the focal point of attention, it has also led to embarrassing reports about operational issues in the United States.

A mock air combat was held in 2015. The cutting-edge aircraft was defeated by an F-16 from the 70s.

2020 Pentagon testing revealed 276 flaws in the jet’s combat system.

These included excessive vibrations from the 25mm cannon and issues with the aircraft’s virtual reality helmet.

These issues included overheating, premature wear in vertical tails components and vulnerability to fire.

While it investigates an oxygen supply issue, the US Air Force temporarily grounded several F-35 stealth fighters.

The Marine Corps, who also operate the same F-35B model the UK has purchased, was forced to ground its planes after flaws were found in the  computer system.