A Navy pilot was listed as in stable condition Monday after ejecting from a F-35C Lightning II during a “landing mishap” on deck of the USS Carl Vinson in the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy said.
The January 24 incident, which is now under investigation, occurred during routine flight operations. It involved a fighter jet assigned to the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, according to the service.
“The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and was recovered via U.S. military helicopter,” the Navy said in a statement.
Seven sailors on board the aircraft carrier were also injured in the incident, four who were treated onboard for their injuries and three who were listed as in stable condition after they were transported by a medevac flight to a medical facility in Manilla, Philippines.
The Navy did not provide information about the F-35C’s condition or status.
Over the weekend, the Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Groups launched drills in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said Monday. During the exercise, ships and aircraft were to conduct coordinated surface and air operations.
According to the Navy, CVW-2 consists of the following units:
- “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 (F-35C squadron)
- “Bounty Hunters” of VFA-2 (F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons)
- “Stingers” of VFA-113 (F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons)
- “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 (F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons)
- “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, operating the EA-18G Growler;
- “Black Eagles” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 113, operating the E-2D Advanced Hawkey
- “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, operating the CMV-22B Osprey
- “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, operating the MH-60S Sea Hawk
- “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, operating the MH-60R Sea Hawk
Earlier this month, the USS Abraham Lincoln deployed with the Marine Corps’ first F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron, and at the helm, the first female commander of a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
The F-35 landing mishap is the second reported in less than a month. A South Korean F-35A was forced into an emergency belly landing January 4 when its landing gear malfunctioned.
