A jet on the bottom of the Mediterranean shows why even small parts can cause big problems for the F-35

Wed, 09/20/2023 - 06:57

A British F-35B crashed during takeoff from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in late 2017.
An investigation found the accident was caused by an air intake cover that was lodged in the intake.
The incident shows that a small problem can have big consequences on a jet like the F-35

Why a US Marine Corps F-35B crashed in South Carolina this week is yet to be determined, but as the crash of a British F-35B two years ago showed, even a simple maintenance error can bring down a $100 million jet.