The crash of an F-35 stealth fighter jet, missing more than 24 hours after the pilot’s ejection, was caused by pilot error, according to a Marine Corps investigation, but multiple system failures and bad weather contributed to the incident.

An F-35B jet was flying in heavy rain near Joint Base Charleston on September 17, 2023, when the pilot ejected and landed in a North Charleston neighborhood. But the F-35 remained in the air for about 11 minutes after ejection due to the plane’s autonomous flight control systems, according to a Marine Corps investigation. released Today.

Partly because of the plane’s stealth coating, it took authorities about 30 hours to find the plane, during which time social media users came up with a number of bizarre theories and jokes about what could have arrive. It was eventually found 64 nautical miles northeast of Joint Base Charleston.

Investigators blamed the pilot for the crash, but said an “electrical event” caused several systems failures, including both radios, the transponder, the tactical air navigation system and the landing system to the instruments. The helmet mounted display– the pilot’s main display system – and the cockpit’s panoramic screen were not operational at least three times, according to the investigation, which disoriented the pilot during the heavy rainstorm.

“The pilot misdiagnosed an uncontrolled flight emergency and ejected from a flight-capable aircraft, albeit during a heavy rainstorm compounded by aircraft electrical and display malfunctions,” it said. ‘investigation.

The report said the pilot had extensive experience on the AV-8B Harrier jet, but was a “relative novice” on the F-35B.

After the crash, authorities were unable to find the fifth-generation fighter jet because the plane’s transponder had failed due to an electrical malfunction, according to the investigation, and the stealth coating of the plane made it much more difficult to locate than a traditional plane.

“The loss of positive radar contact with the accident aircraft resulted from a transponder failure caused by an electrical malfunction and the aircraft’s eventual descent below the air traffic control radar horizon. The loss of positive contact could also be partially attributed to the F-35B’s low-observable technology,” the investigation states.

After the crash and two fatal Marine Corps aviation accidents, the service ordered a two-day aviation resign.