F-35 operations are continuing onboard British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth after one of the jets crashed into the sea after taking off from the ship last week.
After a challenging week for #CSG21 it is great to see the flight deck of @HMSQNLZ busy operating F-35B jets from the @USMC and @OC617Sqn again. @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce pic.twitter.com/LiAzUKYcwG
— Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse (@smrmoorhouse) November 20, 2021
One of the carrier’s F-35B fighters, from 617 Squadron, crashed during operations in the Mediterranean last week. The pilot was able to eject safely.
The Ministry of Defence said:
“A British F35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth ejected during routine flying operations in the Mediterranean this morning. The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
A number of British and American F-35 jets are based on HMS Queen Elizabeth. The aircraft carrier and her strike group are on the return leg of a global deployment.
Quite right too!
So do we reckon the crashed jet will be replaced?
So has the aircraft been recovered yet?
Nope.
Very probably. QE was quite close in to land when the incident happened. If it was a serious technical malfunction, or engine/structural failure ect the fleet would be grounded until further investigation. Could even have been human error. So far though, F35 has a very impressive safety record. When the F16 entered service, the USAF lost on average 11 F16’s a year for it’s first decade of service.
I thought modern jets were tested against bird strikes? I saw a documentary on QE where a bird was sucked into the jet. It had no effect.