Leaked footage shows moment Royal Navy F-35 jet crashes during take-off from HMS Queen Elizabeth

LEAKED video footage circulating social media has shown the moment a £100m F-35 stealth jet crashed into the Mediterranean sea.

By Fiona Callingham

Published 29th Nov 2021, 20:43 BST

Updated 30th Nov 2021, 11:06 BST

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The images show the incident, which was reported to happen on November 17, as the jet took off from HMS Queen Elizabeth.

A pilot can be seen ejecting from the craft before the crash.

Royal Navy: Cheap rain cover thought to be responsible for crash of F-35 from HM...

The jet would have been loaded with top-secret radar, sensors and other technology.

It comes after the crash was reported last week with investigators believing a rain cover was sucked into the F-35’s engine, causing the pilot to eject upon take off.

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The pilot was safely rescued and was taken to hospital for a routine medical check-up in Greece.

Video footage showing an F-35 crashing after taking off from HMS Queen Elizabeth. Image: @sebh1981

Video footage showing an F-35 crashing after taking off from HMS Queen Elizabeth. Image: @sebh1981

It is the first time any of the UK's fleet of 24 F-35 jets have crashed and the first crash for the aircraft carrier.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently on her way home to Portsmouth.

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