U.S. F-35 Makes Emergency Landing after Mission over Iran

A United States F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a U.S. airbase in the Middle East on Thursday after conducting a combat mission over Iran, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said the aircraft landed safely and the pilot is in stable condition. “We are aware of reports that a U.S. F-35 aircraft conducted an emergency landing at a regional U.S. airbase after flying a combat mission over Iran. The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition. This incident is under investigation,” Hawkins was quoted as saying by reports.

The U.S. has not confirmed the cause of the emergency landing. However, CNN, citing two anonymous sources, reported that the aircraft may have been hit by Iranian fire. Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted a U.S. aircraft.

If confirmed, the incident would mark the first reported case of a U.S. crewed aircraft being struck by Iranian fire since the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28. There have been no previously confirmed instances of an F-35 being hit by enemy fire since its operational deployment in 2018.

Military analysts note that while the F-35 is designed to evade radar detection, it retains a detectable heat signature. Iran has developed air defence systems that rely on passive infrared sensors rather than radar, allowing them to track aircraft without emitting detectable signals and reducing warning time for pilots.

U.S. aircraft have previously encountered similar threats in Yemen, where Iranian-backed Houthi forces used infrared-guided systems to engage aircraft, forcing evasive manoeuvres.

The operational environment has shifted as U.S. aircraft conduct missions deeper into Iranian airspace. General Dan Caine said U.S. forces are operating farther east, where Iran’s road-mobile air defence systems are concentrated and can be repositioned or concealed.

The incident comes amid broader losses reported during the conflict. Since February 28, the U.S. has reportedly lost approximately 12 MQ-9 Reaper drones. U.S. officials have also said five KC-135 refuelling aircraft were damaged in an Iranian missile strike at a base in Saudi Arabia, though these reports have not been independently verified.

On March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle jets were shot down in a friendly fire incident involving a Kuwaiti F/A-18. All six crew members ejected safely and were recovered. A separate incident on March 12 saw a KC-135 Stratotanker crash in western Iraq, killing all six crew members.

At least 13 U.S. service members have been killed and around 200 wounded in operations linked to the conflict. Iranian authorities report that at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured since the fighting began.