A UK Royal Air Force F-35B stealth fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Japan’s Kagoshima Airport after experiencing a mechanical issue during flight, according to local media reports. The incident, which occurred around 11:30 a.m., prompted the temporary closure of a runway for 20 minutes, causing delays to several commercial flights.
This marks the second recent fault involving a British F-35B aircraft. On June 14, another jet en route from the UK to Australia was forced to land in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram due to a hydraulic failure. That aircraft remained grounded in India for five weeks before receiving final clearance to return to the UK.
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The F-35B, a 5th-generation stealth fighter built by Lockheed Martin, is known for its advanced technology, short take-off, and vertical landing capabilities.
The aircraft involved in the Kagoshima incident is part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, currently operating in the Indo-Pacific. The group recently completed joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy as part of its ongoing regional mission.
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While the Royal Air Force has not yet released an official statement on the latest emergency landing, the back-to-back incidents have drawn attention to the operational readiness of one of the world’s most sophisticated fighter jets.
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