The US Navy has successfully recovered an F-35C stealth fighter jet from the South China Sea, where it sank in January following a landing mishap on the USS Carl Vinson. The aircraft, valued at $100 million (£74 million), was retrieved from a depth of 12,400 feet (3,780 metres) on Wednesday using a remotely operated vehicle.
The recovery operation involved a diving support ship that lowered a hook to the sea floor, which was attached to rigging fastened to the jet. The aircraft was then lifted to the surface and hoisted aboard the vessel. The Navy stated that the effort demonstrates its commitment to assets and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The F-35C Lightning II crashed during a military exercise, striking the flight deck of the aircraft carrier before falling into the sea. Seven sailors were injured in the incident, while the pilot ejected safely and was rescued by helicopter.
The South China Sea, a region of vital shipping lanes, has been a source of rising tensions between the US and China. Several countries claim ownership of its islands and reefs, with China asserting its territorial claims despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that found no historical basis for exclusive Chinese control.
