US F-35 fighter jet makes emergency landing after suspected Iranian fire: Report

Citing two sources familiar with the matter, the fighter jet reportedly was forced to land after it came under what is suspected to be Iranian fire.

Updated on: Mar 19, 2026, 21:38:08 IST

Edited by Danita Yadav

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A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing on Thursday at a US air base in the Middle East, reported CNN. Citing two sources familiar with the matter, the fighter jet reportedly was forced to land after it came under what is suspected to be Iranian fire.

Iran Hits $100 Million US F-35 Jet? First Video Shows Mid-Air Strike Forcing Emergency Landing | War

As per CNN, Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, said the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing.

Hawkins added the aircraft landed safely and the incident is under investigation.

As we wait for a statement from US Central Command, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards have claimed responsibility and said they attacked and damaged a US F-35 fighter jet.

If the incident is confirmed by Washington, it would mark the first incident where a US military jet has been hit by Iran since the war first broke out on February 28.

This emergency landing of the F-35 jet comes hours after defence secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the US was "decisively winning" in the war against Iran.

Earlier in the war, a refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq. The KC-135 refueling plane that was part of the American military campaign against Iran crashed over western Iraq after an incident involving another plane.

While Central Command stated that the plane did not come under any form of fire - friendly or hostile - Iran has claimed it was behind the attack on the US plane.

The Pentagon later stated that all six members who were on board the refuelling plane were confirmed killed due to the crash.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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