An amazing story happened in the United States, which at first glance seems like a tragicomedy. A Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B Lightning II fighter-bomber suddenly abandoned its pilot and flew away in an unknown direction. The case not only raises questions about the safety and quality of weapons, but also calls into question the high-tech country's ability to monitor its armed forces.

The story began last Sunday, September 17, when the pilot of an F-35B Lightning II decided to eject over South Carolina. The reasons that prompted the American pilot to abandon the aircraft, which was worth about $85 million, remain unclear. After the ejection, the flyer was hospitalized and his condition is assessed as stable.

However, what happened next is truly troubling. As soon as the pilot left the fighter, the on-board computer took control of the flight and the car continued moving, but in an unknown direction. The F-35's transponder, a device designed to transmit a signal in response to a received signal, was turned off and the radars were unable to detect the aircraft.

This incident created fears among those in charge that an uncontrolled aircraft was flying over the country's territory, invisible to civilian and military radars. To gain control of the situation, the Marine Corps asked local residents to report any aircraft that might come down in their sights.

The plane, worth millions of dollars and with a high technical level of equipment and electronics, disappeared without a trace. The incident sparked outrage among South Carolina congresswoman Nancy Mace, who took to social media to express her displeasure.

• "How the hell can you lose an F-35? How can there be no tracking capabilities? So we're asking the public to find the plane and turn it in?" – she wrote.

And really, how can you lose such an expensive fighter? The F-35B model has a nominal flight range of 1670 kilometers, which means it could be searched over a vast area.

It could even reach the territory of other countries, since its range even covered Cuba. Some said the plane landed at Havana airport, but how it could land without a pilot at a foreign airfield in a hostile country remains a mystery.

More serious observers suggested that the F-35B could have crashed into one of the local lakes, such as Moultrie or Marion, which are located north of the city of Charleston and the Joint Base of the same name.

The fighter crashed in a vacant lot in Williamsburg County, about two hours northeast of the base from which it took off. It happened so quietly and unnoticed that none of the local residents noticed the crash. Without a pilot, the car did not stay in the air for long.

Investigation and official comments.

After the discovery of the fighter jet's wreckage in Williamsburg County, officials began an investigation and so far have said the following:

"The Marine Corps is busy gathering additional information and assessing the situation. We are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process."

Many began to ask themselves questions about the transparency and effectiveness of the investigation. After all, such an incident cannot go unnoticed and should raise serious questions from society and Congress.

High-tech uncontrollability.

The Molniya incident has raised serious concerns not only among local residents and politicians, but also among defense and security experts. This incident raised questions about the safety and effectiveness of using high-level military equipment.

The first thing that catches your eye is the uncontrollability of the fighter after the pilot has left it. This has raised serious questions about the autonomous control and safety systems in such military vehicles.

How can this happen to one of the most modern and expensive fighter aircraft in the world?