Authorities confirmed Monday that they found debris in the area where they were looking for the F-35 fighter that had disappeared in the skies over South Carolina after its pilot suffered a "mishap" and had to eject from the plane.
Joint Base Charleston, an air facility located in North Charleston, reported the find in Williamsburg County.
"Residents of the community should avoid the area while the recovery team secures the debris field," the base said in a statement in which it assured that the investigation into the incident continues and for now they could not offer more details.
[U.S. Asks Public for Help in Locating Missing F-35 Fighter Whose Pilot Was Forced to Parachute]
Joint Base Charleston had asked for help locating the aircraft valued at about $100 million.
The F-35 fighter is described as the "world's most advanced fighter jet" and the "most lethal, stealthy and survivable aircraft," according to aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.
The circumstances that forced the pilot to abandon his aircraft have not been specified, nor has the identity of the person driving the aircraft been revealed.
