Debris found during search for missing F-35 fighter jet

(NEXSTAR) — Debris has been found during the search for a military jet that apparently crashed after the pilot safely ejected over the weekend.

The debris field from the missing F-35 was found in Florence County, South Carolina, officials with Joint Base Charleston have confirmed to Nexstar’s WCBD.

The search began Sunday after a pilot was found on South Kenwood Drive in North Charleston after safely ejecting from the passing plane. 

The pilot, whose name hasn’t been released, parachuted to safety into a North Charleston neighborhood at around 2 p.m. Sunday. He was taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition, Marines Maj. Melanie Salinas said Sunday.

Cpl. Christian Cortez, a Marine with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, said there was a mishap involving an F-35B Lightning II jet and that the search was ongoing Monday. Exactly what happened was under investigation, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.