This week, the US Navy reported its first F35C seaplane crash. The plane crashed into an aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson. The plane crashed while trying to land. The crew suffered seven injuries.
The incident took place while the F35C was in South China Sea. The F35C was in routine flight operations when it crashed. It was recovered by a remotely operated vehicle called the CURV-21.
The CURV-21 attached specialized rigging to the plane. It also attached lift lines. CURV-21 helped to rescue the aircraft from below the ocean floor. In the past, it has been able to recover aircraft from deep water.
Engineers are currently making preparations for recovering the F35C. Ultra Deep Solutions, which is based in Singapore, was contracted by the US Navy. The salvage operation will take about 120 days, depending on the depth. Although there are no plans for the aircraft to be moved to a specific spot, it is possible that China will observe the operation.
The Navy reported that it was recovered from a depth approximately 12,400ft. The aircraft sustained damage to its rear fuselage. Also, the S9 skin had been punctured. The plane's tail was also engulfed in fire. The pilot was safely ejected. It is possible that the pilot's plane was microburst of the deck, although there aren't any details.
Social media users shared a video showing the F35C approaching the carrier just before it crashed. This footage was taken by an employee of the carrier. The video went viral online in China and other countries. The validity of the video was controversial.
The senior chief aboard the carrier claimed that the video was being circulated within a smoke pit. He claimed that the senior yeoman on board, a Capt. Scott Miller, had told his crew to remove the video.
It is not clear if the video was an official document, or a rumor. It appears that the video was accessed and circulated by several Navy personnel including five officers. It is also possible that the video was not properly cleared before it was released.
The F35C stealth fighter is the most advanced in the world. It's a member of the US Navy's "Argonauts" and belongs to Strike Fighter Squadron 147. It's also the newest jet in the Navy's fleet. It's capable of flying for approximately 12 days per annum, although it is expected to be able flight for longer periods. It's also been claimed that the aircraft could have suffered power degradation.
The Navy has also been preparing for F35C recovery over the last month. 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 a lot of information to gather about the accident. The aircraft was assigned as part of the Strike Fighter Squadron 147. It was the first US Marine Corps unit that deployed with a F-35C aboard an aircraft carrier. This was the first occasion that an aircraft US Navy carrier-based crashed while being deployed offshore.