Mystery deepens surrounding missing F-35 Jet

Reports say a stand down order has been issued

All Marine Corps aircraft, both within and outside the U.S., have been grounded due to the mysterious disappearance of a stealth F-35 jet in South Carolina.

According to ABC News, the order was issued by Gen. Eric Smith, the acting commandant of the Marines. Marine aircraft with immediate real-world missions can delay the order briefly but must stand down for two days this week.

The F-35B Lightning II jet, valued at approximately $80 million, went missing, but the pilot safely ejected and is in stable condition.

Despite being on autopilot when the pilot ejected, the jet would have run out of fuel by now.

The decision to ground all aircraft follows two recent deadly Marine Corps crashes, including an F-18 crash near San Diego and an Osprey crash off the coast of Australia.

Joint Base Charleston is coordinating search efforts with the Marines, Navy, FAA, Civil Air Patrol, and local law enforcement to locate the missing jet, which belongs to a training squadron in the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The incident is currently under investigation.