The US Navy reported earlier this week its first F35C accident at sea. The plane crashed into an aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson. The jet had crashed while attempting to make a landing. Seven crew members were hurt in the accident.
The incident occurred as the carrier was sailing in the South China Sea. The F35C crashed while performing a routine flight operation. It was found by the remotely controlled vehicle, CURV-21.
The CURV-21 attached specialist rigging and other equipment to the plane. It also attached liftlines to the aircraft. CURV-21 helped to rescue the aircraft from below the ocean floor. It has also recovered aircraft from extremely deep waters in the past.
Now, a team of engineers is preparing to retrieve the F35C. Ultra Deep Solutions from Singapore has been contracted by the US Navy. The entire salvage operation should take 120 days depending upon the depth. The aircraft is not being moved to a particular location. However, China may monitor the operation.
The Navy reported that it was recovered from a depth approximately 12,400ft. The aircraft was also damaged to its rear fuselage. Additionally, the S9 skin suffered punctures. The fire also caused the plane's tail to catch on fire. The pilot was safely ejected. There are still not many details about the accident. However, it is possible the pilot's plane was microburst off of the deck.
Social media users shared a video showing the F35C approaching the carrier just before it crashed. This footage was apparently recorded by a crew member. The video became viral in China and elsewhere on social media. There was controversy about the validity of this video.
The carrier's senior chief said the video was circulated inside a smokepit. He claimed that the senior yeoman on board, a Capt. Scott Miller had ordered his crew remove the video.
It is not clear if the video was an official document, or a rumor. The video appears to have been leaked by several Navy personnel, including five officers. It has also been alleged that the video wasn't properly cleared.
The F35C is the best stealth fighter in the world. It is a member US Navy’s "Argonauts" fleet and belongs Strike Fighter Squadron 147. It is also a newer jet in the Navy's fleet. The aircraft can only fly for around 12 days a calendar year, but it is expected that it can fly for longer. There are also reports that the aircraft could have suffered from power degradation.
The Navy spent the past month also preparing for the F35C's recovery. It has also collected specialized salvage gear. The salvage operation is likely to take about 10 to 15 days to reach the crash site, depending on the depth.
The Navy still has much to learn about this crash. The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (or SF-147). This unit was the first to deploy a F-35C on an aircraft carrier. This was the first incident in which a US Navy carrier-based aircraft collided while on an offshore deployment mission.