A British F-35B Lightning II fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport in Kirishima City, Japan, on the morning of 10 August, according to Japanese media.
No injuries were reported and the airport has resumed normal operations. Verified imagery has confirmed this.
The Kagoshima Airport Office said the aircraft landed shortly after 11:30am local time after the pilot reported a possible mechanical problem to air traffic control. NHK footage showed the jet parked near the runway at 2:00pm with no visible damage.
“The fighter pilot had contacted air traffic control in advance, stating that he was experiencing a possible mechanical problem and wishing to make an emergency landing,” the airport office told NHK.
Following the landing, the airport closed its runway for around 20 minutes while the F-35B was moved to a taxiway and safety checks were carried out. Six departing and arriving flights were delayed by about 20 minutes.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the aircraft was a British carrier-based F-35B from HMS Prince of Wales, which is currently deployed in the Western Pacific as part of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25). “The aircraft landed at Kagoshima Airport due to a malfunction,” the ministry said.
HMS Prince of Wales and several accompanying vessels are in the region conducting joint training with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military, with exercises scheduled to continue until 12 August. The deployment forms part of Operation Highmast, demonstrating the UK’s ability to operate alongside allies in the Indo-Pacific.
The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
Oh dear…
Not again!
He should have landed on a container ship. At least he could have got a lift home.🤣 Malfunctions happen all the time, it’s like the proverbial cat up a tree. The Harrier had dozens of incidents. I do hope they don’t just leave him there for weeks, though.
Difference is Japan is a country which has been authorise to buy F35B – so there isn’t a security angle taking help from the appropriate locals.
I’d far rather a pilot does an emergency landing in friendly tarmac than risk the frame and their life.
In this case the frame is undamaged and so is the pilot so everyone gets to fly another day.
It isn’t like civilian airlines never have mechanicals….
JJ
#day 1 ?
Lol British F35 world tour
Anyone remotely familiar with fast jet operations will know that precautionary landings or state 2 landings like this are extremely routine. In the Harrier GR7/9 days, we had 3/4 a month on average at Cottesmore. Sometimes that number in one week. And these types of stories do nothing but give information to the mass uninformed the opportunity to make ridiculous comments. Just seen the Facebook post. And the comments are indeed ridiculous.
Yeah well it is Facebook, I’m sure Twitter is far more respectful 😈
Quite
How many civilian airbus or Boeings do precautionary diverts each day? Quite a few I’d imagine.
Far better to get the plane down safely and take it from there.
Well said mate.
It seems we are the only ones who have aircraft malfunctions.
Hopefully this one is back flying again soon and there’s no repeat of the Indian saga.