Missing F-35 fighter jet found in rural South Carolina, not Cuba | Fact check
The claim: Missing F-35 fighter jet landed in Cuba
A Sept. 19 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows Infowars host Owen Shroyer talking about a missing fighter jet.
"US Military Loses an F-35 After Pilot Ejects, Reportedly Landed in Cuba FOX BREAKING NEWS," reads the video's caption.
The video was shared more than 200 times in six days.
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Our rating: False
The fighter jet's debris field was found by authorities in a field in rural South Carolina. A spokesperson for Fox News confirmed the network did not report the aircraft landed in Cuba.
F-35 fighter jet's debris field found in rural South Carolina
On Sept. 17, a Marine pilot was flying an F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet at about 1,000 feet when he ejected and parachuted into a backyard in North Charleston, South Carolina. The plane kept on flying after the pilot ejected and was briefly considered "missing" before the wreckage of the plane was found in a field in Indiantown, South Carolina, the next day, as USA TODAY previously reported.
The aircraft began its flight from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and was part of a training squadron with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The Marine Corps is handling the investigation.
A Sept. 19 article by the Associated Press included a video from the crash site in South Carolina.
Fact check: The first female F-35 fighter pilot has never crashed a plane, contrary to claims
While some details about the incident haven't been released, there are no credible reports that the missing fighter jet landed in Cuba, as the video claims.
The video's caption cited Fox News as the source of the information, but the network told USA TODAY it never reported such information.
"I can confirm Fox News did not report this claim," said spokesperson Sofie Watson.
There is no mention of the fighter jet's supposed arrival in any recent statements from Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lead Stories also debunked the claim.
USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
USA TODAY, Sept. 23, Crashed F-35: What to know about the high-tech jet that often doesn't work correctly
USA TODAY, Sept. 22, 'I ejected': Pilot of crashed F-35 jet in South Carolina pleads for help in phone call
USA TODAY, Sept. 20, Missing F-35 jet flew for 60 miles without a pilot, who ejected into backyard after 'mishap'
Joint Base Charleston, Sept. 18, X post
Joint Base Charleston, Sept. 18, X post
Associated Press, Sept. 19, Officials find debris from F-35 fighter jet that crashed in South Carolina after pilot ejected
Associated Press, Sept. 19, Crashed fighter jet debris found in South Carolina
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accessed Sept. 25, About our Missions
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Debris from F-35 jet found in South Carolina, not Cuba | Fact check