A military pilot miraculously survived after ejecting from an F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet that crashed in a South Carolina resident’s backyard on Sunday, September 17. The incident led to a remarkable 911 call, where the resident urgently sought assistance from emergency dispatchers.
In a four-minute recording released by South Carolina authorities, the resident calmly informed the dispatcher, “We got a pilot in the house, and I guess he landed in my backyard, and we’re trying to see if we could get an ambulance to the house, please.”
The pilot himself joined the call to provide crucial details. He identified himself as a 47-year-old man who had fallen approximately 2,000 feet due to “an aircraft failure.” Despite experiencing some back pain, he reassured the dispatcher that he was feeling “okay.” The resident also commented that the pilot appeared to be in good condition.
“We have a military jet crash. I’m the pilot. We need to get the rescue rolling,” the pilot urgently conveyed to the dispatcher. He explained that he was uncertain about the exact crash location as he had ejected from the aircraft.
Airmen from Joint Base Charleston promptly responded to the scene. The pilot was transported to a hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. Fortunately, he did not sustain serious injuries and was later discharged.
The incident had initially prompted a search for the missing $80 million aircraft, involving personnel from Joint Base Charleston and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Eventually, the debris field of the F-35 was located in Williamsburg County on September 18.
Joint Base Charleston, in a Facebook statement, indicated that the mishap was under investigation, and they could not provide further details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process.
Eyewitnesses who had observed the plane before the crash reported that it was flying in an “inverted” position. According to a situational report from Marine Corps officials, the pilot “experienced a malfunction and was forced to eject” at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet.
Remarkably, the crash avoided a densely populated area surrounding the airport, instead landing in an empty field and forested area. This fortunate outcome prevented potential casualties on the ground.
