BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) – Authorities say a U.S. Marine pilot safely ejected from a military plane that crashed in Beaufort early Friday afternoon.
According to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort an F-35B crashed around 11:45 a.m. near Little Barnwell Island. The jet was flown by a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 stationed at MCAS Beaufort.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) says the crash occurred in a “rural area” near a marsh. The site is located approximately four miles from MCAS Beaufort on Geiger Boulevard.
The pilot was the sole occupant of the single-seat aircraft. MCAS Beaufort officials say he was treated for minor injuries at Beaufort Memorial Hospital and is at home recovering now.
There were no civilian injuries involved in the crash.
“Glad to hear reports that pilot ejected safely… but a reminder of the ways in which our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line daily,” Rep. Mark Sanford tweeted about the crash on Friday.
MCAS Beaufort says the cause of the “mishap” is under investigation.
