The Post and Courier published an exclusive in-depth story "41 Seconds" detailing Marine Colonel Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo's decision to eject from a malfunctioning F-35B stealth fighter on September 17, 2023, and the startling aftermath that ended his distinguished 31-year military career.
The incident made international headlines when the $136 million aircraft remained airborne for over 11 minutes after Del Pizzo ejected. It has been shrouded in mystery and unresolved questions until now. For the first time, Del Pizzo shares his full account with The Post and Courier senior projects reporter Tony Bartelme, four-time Pulitzer finalist.
The investigation reveals:
- What happens in the critical 41 seconds in which Del Pizzo experienced multiple catastrophic system failures while flying blind in severe weather.
- Details of three separate military investigations with contradictory conclusions.
- How Del Pizzo was initially cleared to resume flying and command an elite squadron, only to be abruptly relieved of duty more than a year after the incident.
- Concerns from military aviators that the Marine Corps' handling of Del Pizzo creates a dangerous precedent that could make pilots hesitate to eject from failing aircraft.
"We needed to take a hard look at that to prevent it from happening again," Del Pizzo told The Post and Courier. "In aviation, we have a culture. When there are errors, when things don't go as planned, we learn from them. If you don't do that, then you have a culture of fear. And if you have a culture of fear, then people are going to be paralyzed and not be able to make decisions. And that's how people end up getting hurt. That's how people end up getting killed."
The Post and Courier's investigation is based on more than 700 pages of documents obtained from the Defense Department and local law enforcement agencies, interviews with military aviators, and extensive conversations with Del Pizzo and his family.
"This story finally provides the answers the public has been seeking since that mysterious day in 2023 when an F-35 seemingly flew itself," said Jeff Taylor, executive editor of The Post and Courier. "More importantly, it reveals critical questions about accountability, military culture, and the human consequences when complex technology fails."
The full story and video interview is available online at postandcourier.com.