Stealth Fighter Missing - Public Asked to "Cooperate"?

News reports say the military is asking the public to help find the missing stealth fighter in or around South Carolina which was reportedly left in autopilot when the actual pilot ejected. But the military base's Facebook post asks the public to "cooperate".

Cooperate? That seems, odd?

"The public is asked to cooperate with military and civilian authorities as the effort continues."

Team Charlston Facebook post

Update 9/20/23

Military Officials Locate Debris From F-35 Fighter That Crashed Over South Carolina