US military lost $80m fighter jet, found it next day
Listen to the story (South African accent)
US military officials have found the debris of the missing F-35 military jet. The plane disappeared on Sunday afternoon after the pilot jumped out over South Carolina.
The pilot ejected from the airplane and used a parachute to safely land, but the airplane continued to fly. The military asked the public to help find the jet.
A second F-35 flying at the same time returned safely to the military base.
The debris of the $80m plane was discovered in rural Williamsburg. It was missing for more than 24 hours.
Officials said the aircraft had a "mishap". They are now investigating the mishap but did not give more information.
The plane was part of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which trains pilots.
After the military asked the public for help finding the jet, there was a lot of criticism and some jokes online.
However, the plane was a stealth jet, which means it’s very hard to detect. Stealth jets are designed so that radar and other systems can’t see them.
On Monday, the US Marine Corps said they will stop flying all of their planes for two days.
In 2018, the US military temporarily stopped flying all F-35 jets after a crash in South Carolina.
Vocabulary23 words
- Military
- armed forces; army; agency or department of a government for combat/war
- Official
- a person who works for the government or a government company and has power or authority; officer; executive
- Debris
- Pieces of something that has been broken or damaged
- Missing
- can’t be found; not present; absent or lost
- Jet
- an airplane with a powerful “jet” engine
- Disappear
- can’t be found; vanish; not able to be seen
- Pilot
- The person who controls and flies an airplane
- Eject
- To leave an airplane quickly in case of an emergency
- Parachute
- A large piece of cloth that helps you slow down when you fall from a high place
- Public
- general people, all people, citizens; available for all people; open to everyone
- Base
- a place that is the center of operations; camp; headquarters; site; center
- Discover
- to find, especially unexpectedly; to become aware of;
- Rural
- far from a city; countryside
- Mishap
- a mistake; an unlucky accident
- Investigate
- to research; to study; to find out more
- Train
- To teach; to educate
- Criticism
- a negative comment or negative opinion about something;
- Joke
- to say funny things; to say or do something for amusement or to make other people laugh;
- Stealth
- Not easy to see or hear
- Detect
- notice; observe; see; find out
- Design
- to make for a special task or job; do or plan (something) with a specific purpose in mind;
- Radar
- A system that uses radio waves to detect/see things that are far away
- Temporarily
- for a short time; not for long; limited period of time
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
US military _____ have found the debris of the missing F-35 military _____. The plane disappeared on Sunday afternoon after the pilot _____ out over South Carolina.
The pilot ejected from the _____ and used a parachute to safely land, but the airplane continued to fly. The _____ asked the public to help find the jet.
A second F-35 flying at the _____ time returned safely to the military base.
The debris of the $80m plane was _____ in rural Williamsburg. It was missing for more than 24 _____.
Officials said the aircraft _____ a "mishap". They are now investigating the mishap but did not give more _____.
The plane was part of _____ Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which trains pilots.
After the military asked the _____ for help finding the jet, there was a lot of criticism and some _____ online.
However, the plane was a _____ jet, which means it’s very hard to detect. Stealth jets are designed so that _____ and other systems can’t see them.
On Monday, the US Marine Corps said they will _____ flying all of their planes for two days.
In _____, the US military temporarily stopped flying all F-35 jets after a _____ in South Carolina.
Discussion questions
- Do you think it was a good idea for the military to ask the public for help in finding the missing F-35 jet? Why or why not?
- Why do you think there was criticism and jokes online after the military asked for help finding the jet?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using stealth jets?
- What are the potential consequences of this incident for the US military?
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