A 911 operator received a call informing about a pilot of the F-35 fighter jet that disappeared into the sky in South Carolina, in the United States. The caller told the 911 operator that a pilot landed in his backyard. Speaking to the 911 operator, the pilot said that a military jet crash had occurred and called for a rescue operation. The debris field of the jet was found on Monday approximately two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston.
“We got a pilot in the house, and I guess he landed in my backyard, and we’re trying to see if we can get an ambulance to the house, please,” the caller said, as per CNN. “We’re getting help on the way,” the operator said.
According to the Marine Corps and a defence official, the remains of the jet went missing on Sunday near Charleston, South Carolina, after the pilot ejected, as reported by CNN. The caller said that a pilot got ejected from the plane, and he asked for an ambulance. “I guess we got a pilot at our house, and he says he got ejected from the plane,” said the caller, as per the recording obtained by CNN. The operator asked, “I’m sorry, what happened?"
The jet’s debris field was discovered Monday after multiple agencies conducted search operations on the ground and from the air, as per CNN. The pilot was taken to a local medical facility in stable condition. Authorities had requested the public's help in finding the jet.
The pilot took the phone and said that a military jet crash had occurred and called for a rescue operation. “We had a military jet crash,” the pilot said. “I’m the pilot. We need to get rescue rolling,” he added. He further said, “I’m not sure where the aeroplane is. It would have crash-landed somewhere. I ejected.”
I Don’t Know. I Can’t See Myself': Pilot Tells 911 Caller
The pilot said that he fell more than 2,000 feet, but a Marine official said Monday that the fighter jet was flying at 1,000 feet when the pilot ejected, as reported by CNN. On being asked about the reason for the fall, the pilot said that it happened due to “an aircraft failure”, as per the recording CNN obtained. The 911 operator further asked if there was serious bleeding. The pilot responded, “I don’t know. I can’t see myself.” Interjecting the pilot, the 911 caller said, “No, you look fine... just a couple of scratches.”
“I feel OK. My back just hurts,” the pilot said. He further asked, “Has there been a report of an aeroplane crash?” “I have not seen any,” the operator said. Speaking on the phone on Sunday, the operator asked where the pilot was injured. The pilot responded, “Ma’am, I’m a pilot in the military aircraft, and I ejected. So I just rode a parachute down to the ground. Can you please send an ambulance?” as quoted by CNN. The fighter jet that went missing was found hours later and miles away, after which a Pentagon investigation into the “mishap” began.