An F-35 fighter jet from the United States has made an emergency landing at an airbase in the Middle East after carrying out a combat mission over Iran, according to US military officials.
The aircraft landed safely on Thursday, and the pilot is in stable condition, said Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM).
We are aware of reports that a US F-35 aircraft conducted an emergency landing at a regional US 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 said in a statement.
CNN reported quoted two anonymous sources as saying that the plane, which cost up to $100m, was likely hit by Iran.
Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued a statement saying it targeted a US aircraft. The US has yet to confirm why the F-35 was forced to make an emergency landing.
Since fighting began on February 28, the United States has reportedly lost approximately 12 MQ-9 Reaper drones.
Separately, US officials said five KC-135 refuelling aircraft were damaged in an Iranian missile strike at a base in Saudi Arabia, although the reports have not been independently verified.
Although F-35 stealth fighters have been deployed in combat operations since 2018, there have been no confirmed cases of one being struck by enemy fire.
On March 1, three US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down in a friendly fire incident involving a Kuwaiti F/A-18. All six crew members ejected safely and were recovered.
At least 13 US service members have been killed in combat operations against Iran, with roughly 200 others wounded.
In Iran, at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured since the start of the conflict, according to local health authorities.
