The $100 million 'stealth' mystery
BONUS: Murdoch dethroned and other thoughts
As has been the case for several months (longer if you want to count the four years of the Trump presidency) trying to keep up with the news has been a challenge. There are enough new developments in Washington and abroad the make your head spin.
Given the abundance of events to focus on — political and otherwise — is it odd that the mystery of the crash of the once-missing F-35 fighter jet in South Carolina has captured my imagination?
Most military aircraft mishaps aren’t overly complex: typically it’s either pilot error or mechanical/technical failure. As of this writing (Thursday afternoon), we know precious little about what happened.
We do know that the jet took off Sunday from a Marine Corps Air Station near Charleston, where my family vacationed in late June. The pilot, since hospitalized, ejected the stealth fighter jet somewhere in the Charleston suburbs. We do not know why he bailed, but it’s obvious he felt the jet could not be brought down safely. Indeed, bailing out over a populated area presumably underscores the severity of the situation.
After initially saying the jet had been left on autopilot when the pilot ejected from the aircraft, a Marine spokesman later told NBC News that authorities did not know whether that was the case and were still investigating the matter.
But it gets even stranger. The Marines could not locate the crashed jet until more than 24 hours after the ejection. How could that be? Didn’t the aircraft have a beacon or transponder capable of broadcasting its location to authorities? The Marines were so clueless that they actually appealed to the public for tips as to the plane’s whereabouts, prompting U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who represents Charleston, to ask “How in the hell do you lose an F-35?”
As Byron York of the Washington Examiner observed:
That set off lots of jokes that echoed Mace’s question. The Babylon Bee posted an article headlined, “Military Personnel Seen Wandering Forest Pressing Button On F-35 Key Fob,” with an accompanying illustration of troops in full gear doing just that.
The Marine Corps later issued a statement announcing a “two-day stand-down in operations this week … to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices,” following what it said were “three Class-A aviation mishaps over the last six weeks.
“This stand down is being taken to ensure the service is maintaining operational standardization of combat-ready aircraft with well-prepared pilots and crews.”
That sounds like there are problems in the ranks of Marine Corps aviation. Equally troubling is the lack of information the Pentagon has released on this matter. Was this pilot error or a mechanical failure? Why did it take so long to locate the crashed aircraft? How experienced was the pilot? Why didn’t he direct the plane to the nearby ocean (there’s lots of it around Charleston) and ditch it there, where it would pose less of a threat to humans and property than crashing it 75 miles southwest of Charleston?
One eyewitness told Fox News when the jet flew over his house at about 100 feet above the treetops, that it was “almost inverted” — or flying upside down — in the moments before the disaster.
The Marine Corps might think this is none of our business, but these highly sophisticated stealth jets cost in the neighborhood of $100 million apiece. Taxpayers and journalists should demand answers.
Also catching my eye:
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board asks (rhetorically perhaps):
Why Is Donald Trump Afraid to Debate? (free link)
“He’s ducking exchanges with his competitors who could challenge his record and platform.”
The board is absolutely correct. But his cowardice notwithstanding, the man has no incentive to debate. He is so far ahead in the polls that it’s not necessary. Besides, his biggest supporters aren’t really interested in debating issues. They just want their grievances addressed. And, with the possible exception of the Smarmy Ramaswamy, no one touches the erogenous zones of Trump Nation like Trump himself.
Rupert Murdoch to Retire From Fox and News Corporation Boards (free link) -NYT
“The move leaves his son Lachlan as the sole executive in charge of the global media empire.”
I don’t foresee any big changes but the 93-year-old media mogul’s career and business empire is nothing to celebrate. More from the Lincoln Project (a group of disaffected Never-Trump Republicans):
Musk Might Charge All X/Twitter Users a Fee to Be on the Platform -Variety
(if he does, I’m off)
Just in before I hit “send”:
