Marines pause aviation operations for two days as search continues in South Carolina for fighter jet

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — All Marine Corps aviation units are pausing operations for two days after a fighter jet’s apparent weekend crash in South Carolina marked the third costly accident in recent weeks. The search for the missing F-35B Lightning II jet was focused Monday on two lakes near North Charleston. Military officials say the pilot parachuted safely into a North Charleston neighborhood Sunday afternoon. He was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition. Cpl. Christian Cortez, a Marine with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, says there was a mishap involving the jet and that the search is ongoing. He says exactly what happened is still under investigation.