That is the VTOL variant of the F35. Which variant crashed?
Yes.
On-going reports of a F-35 Lightning from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort down in North Charleston, South Carolina. The pilot ejected and survived. There is no information on what led to the ejection.
The F-35B was put on autopilot before ejecting.
The pilot landed by parachute in a Charleston neighborhood and is in stable condition.
18 sep: A debris field has been found around 70 miles north of Charleston, Florence county, South Carolina.
Unit is VMFAT-501. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Only the F-35B variant has an auto-eject system,
a feature that is tied to its ability to hover in mid-air.
(US16E ejection seat).
(fig. 35 F-35 hanger load-out)