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Picture emerges of mangled F-35 fighter jet that crashed into sea after failed take-off

The picture of the recovered F-35 fighter jet
The picture of the recovered F-35 fighter jet

A photograph of Britain’s crashed F-35 jet on the deck of a salvage ship has emerged in the latest leak from the recovery operation.

The stealth fighter crashed in the Mediterranean Sea during an attempted take-off from HMS Queen Elizabeth last November.

After a three-week search, the aircraft was found on the seabed in “significant large parts”, according to a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman at the time.

A member of the crew was arrested in relation to the unauthorised release of footage of the incident. An investigation by the MoD is still ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.

Now, in a leaked photograph seemingly taken from the Spanish salvage vessel, the extent of the damage to the jet can be seen.

The photograph, thought to have been taken in December, shows the aircraft on its back, indicating that the two tail fins – containing auxiliary fuel tanks – have been ripped off.

It is not known whether the tail fins detached in the crash or were removed to get the aircraft onto the salvage vessel.

Also visible are the doors to the payload bay, which would have housed missiles. No weapons were thought to have been carried by the jet at the time of the crash as it had been on a training flight, but the doors should not be open.

A square portion of the underside of the port wing is missing. This area is thought to house the underwing roll nozzle ducts, used to blast air downwards to give stability whilst the aircraft is hovering.

Both wheels are still in position, but it would appear that at least one of the landing gear bay doors is missing.

It is not possible to tell whether the lift-fan door, located at the front of the aircraft and which was open for take-off to provide downward thrust, was ripped off in the crash.

The registration number of the aircraft – ZM152 – is clearly visible on the rear of the fuselage, confirming that it is the downed jet, which first flew in June 2019.

The MoD was understood to be “disappointed” that the photograph was posted on social media.

Nato allies Italy and the US helped in the recovery operation. A Spanish salvage company under contract to US forces is understood to have been used and is thought to be the vessel in the photograph.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Recovery efforts of the ditched F-35 successfully concluded in December 2021.

“The Defence Accident Investigation Branch is currently conducting an investigation into the causes of the incident, and will report their findings in due course.

“We cannot comment further while the investigation is ongoing.”