The USS Carl Vincent, An F-35, And A Very Big Splash.
Late January of this year, on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vincent there was an accident involving an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. In our On Aviation™ digests we generally tend to focus on civil aviation, however, this is a great opportunity for us to learn more about the inner workings of the Navy and by extension military aviation, particularly as it relates to incidents and accidents. Below we have shared some new stories on this incident that provide greater detail on what happened. Notwithstanding this, there is still an ongoing investigation by the US Navy, which will take time to come up with a final conclusion as the probable cause of this accident.
Newly leaked video shows F-35 crashing in flames on aircraft carrier
A video posted on social media over the weekend shows the stealth fighter that crashed on a US Navy aircraft carrier last month bursting into flames as it strikes the flight deck of the massive warship.
By Brad Lendon and Ivan Watson | CNN
Navy confirms video and photo of F-35 that crashed in South China Sea are real
A video showing the moments leading up to the crash of an F-35C Joint Strike Fighter that occured aboard the USS Carl Vinson on Monday is now circulating online. The Navy also confirmed that a photo showing a canopyless F-35 bobbing in the water which had begun circulating shortly before the video was also related to the crash.
By Max Hauptman | Task & Purpose
USS Carl Vinson returns to San Diego after 8-month deployment
Thousands of servicemembers aboard the USS Carl Vinson will return to Naval Air Station North Island Monday, marking the end of an eight-month deployment. The ship was stationed in the Indo-pacific region. Its return comes after a video leaked last week showing a fiery F-35 jet crash on deck. Several sailors were hurt in the incident. Officials said the incident involving an F-35C Lightning II occurred during routine flight operations in the South China Sea.
By CBS 8 Staff | CBS8
What Happens When a Stealth Jet Ends Up on the Ocean Floor?
On Jan. 24, one of the U.S. Navy’s most expensive warplanes crashed as it tried to land on an aircraft carrier and sank to the bottom of the South China Sea. The $94 million F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is now the subject of a salvage operation. In a statement issued on the day of the incident, the Navy said seven sailors had been injured when the jet suffered a “landing mishap” on the aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson. It did not mention that the plane had ended up in the ocean.
By John Ismay | The NY Times
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