"Marine Corps Grounds Aircraft Fleet After Three Recent Crashes"

The Marine Corps has taken decisive action by instituting a temporary halt in flight operations following a string of three crashes within a six-week period. This suspension, initiated by Acting Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith, is scheduled to last for two days, during which all aviation units within the service will conduct comprehensive reviews of flight safety procedures, ground safety protocols, maintenance practices, and flight operations to ensure combat readiness.

The most recent incident involved an F-35B fighter jet that went missing after the pilot ejected, with the wreckage discovered approximately two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston. The Marine Corps, along with a defense official knowledgeable about the search, confirmed the discovery. This event followed an earlier crash on August 24, when a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet tragically crashed near San Diego, resulting in the pilot's fatality. The cause of this accident remains under investigation.

Shortly thereafter, another tragedy occurred as a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey crashed during military exercises in Australia, leading to the loss of three lives and leaving five others in critical condition. This crash is also undergoing investigation.

While there is no apparent connection between these incidents, all three have been categorized as Class-A mishaps by the Marine Corps. A Class-A mishap is defined as an incident that results in either a fatality or more than $2.5 million in property damage. The gravity of these crashes has prompted the Marine Corps to enact this temporary suspension of aviation operations.

"This pause dedicates time and resources to reinforce the established policies, practices, and procedures of the Marine aviation community," the Marine Corps stated. "This is done in the interest of public safety, the protection of our Marines and sailors, and to ensure that the Marine Corps maintains its status as a ready and highly-trained fighting force."

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