F-35 jet crash in South Carolina results in $135.6 million loss, new records show
postandcourier.com — February 7, 2025, 11:01 AM UTC
A Marine F-35B jet that crashed in South Carolina in 2023 has been valued at $135.6 million, according to newly released military records. The jet flew uncrewed for 11 minutes before crashing in a rural area after experiencing system failures. The pilot, Col. Charles "Tre" Del Pizzo, ejected from the aircraft under challenging conditions. He sustained injuries costing $82,000. Previous estimates of the jet's cost ranged from $80 million to $100 million. The investigation documents, mostly redacted, included details about the ejection seat and the crash site. The F-35 program has faced criticism over reliability issues, with experts questioning its effectiveness.