Marines pause aviation operations for two days as search continues in South Carolina for fighter jet
All Marine Corps aviation units are pausing operations for two days after a fighter jet’s apparent weekend crash in South Carolina marked the third costly accident in recent weeks NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -- All U.S. Marine Corps aviation units are pausing operations for two days after a fighter jet's apparent crash over the weekend marked the third costly accident in recent weeks. Gen. Eric Smith, the acting commandant of the Marine Corps, ordered the stand-down Monday while authorities search ed near two South Carolina lakes for the missing FB-35B Lightning II aircraft. The pilot, whose name hasn't been released, parachuted to safety into a North Charleston neighborhood about 2 p.m. Sunday. He was taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition, Marines Maj. Melanie Salinas said Sunday. It's the third event documented as a “Class-A mishap" over the past six weeks, according to a Marine Corps announcement. Such incidents occur when damages reach $2.5 million or ...