F-35 crashes while landing on USS Carl Vinson in South China Sea
An F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter had a “landing mishap” on the deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Monday in the South China Sea.
The aircraft, which is assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2, was conducting routine flight operations in the South China Sea when the mishap occurred. The pilot safely ejected and were recovered by a military helicopter, Pacific Fleet said in a statement.
Seven sailors were injured, with three sent to a medical facility in Manila, Philippines, who are now in stable condition. Four sailors were treated aboard Carl Vinson and three of them have been released.
Additional details and the cause of the inflight mishap is under investigation, according to the Navy.
A spokesman for the Navy’s 7th Fleet in Japan, Lt. Mark Langford, said Tuesday the impact to the Vinson’s flight deck was “superficial” and the warship and its air wing had resumed normal operations. As for the F-35, “the status of the recovery is in progress,” Langford said.
The U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Groups, led by USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3, were conducting dual carrier operations in the South China Sea, January. 23, 2022. The aircraft carriers engaged in joint operations including enhanced maritime communication operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations to strengthen maritime integrated-at-sea operations and combat readiness.
The training was being conducted in accordance with international law in international waters.
