The crash of the F-35 carrier-based fighter of the air wing of the American aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on January 24, 2022 occurred due to the error of a pilot – lieutenant assigned to the 147th assault fighter squadron. It has been reported Stars and Stripes referring to the results of the investigation.
It was noted that the lieutenant made an unsuccessful alignment maneuver during landing without switching engine thrust control from manual to automatic. As a result, the aircraft crashed into the deck, caught fire and flew off the deck.
The pilot managed to eject, but was injured. Five more crew members of the carrier were injured, the wreckage of the fighter damaged the EA-18G Growler fighter on deck. The deck itself was damaged and cost $120,000 to repair.
The crashed $115.3 million plane was lifted in March 2022 but was beyond repair.
According to the publication, the unnamed pilot was suspended from the flight following the crash but continues to serve in the US Navy. In addition, the commission of inquiry recommended that pilots’ helmets be equipped with an indicator that indicates that the automatic landing approach has been turned off.
Previously reportedA US F-35 fighter jet crashed in the South China Sea while attempting to land on the US Navy aircraft carrier Carl Vinson.
According to the US Pacific Fleet, the incident occurred while the aircraft carrier’s air wing was making scheduled flights in the South China Sea.