A British F-35B stealth fighter jet was compelled to make an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport in southwestern Japan on Sunday due to a technical malfunction, according to airport officials cited by Kyodo News.
The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m., resulting in the temporary closure of the runway and disrupting several commercial flight departures and arrivals for approximately 20 minutes. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
This jet is part of a British aircraft carrier strike group currently participating in a joint military exercise with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force and U.S. forces. The drill, which began on August 4, is scheduled to continue until next Tuesday.
Kerala Rerun?
This marks the second known emergency landing involving a British F-35B in recent months.
Previously, another fighter jet from the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier made an emergency landing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on June 14 due to a hydraulic system failure.
While conducting a routine sortie, the aircraft was unable to return to its carrier and diverted to Thiruvananthapuram Airport, designated as an emergency recovery site. The Indian Air Force provided comprehensive support, including refuelling and ground assistance.
The jet remained grounded at the airport for five weeks before departing on July 22. The British High Commission expressed gratitude toward Indian authorities for their cooperation during the repair and recovery process.
“We remain very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout,” a British High Commission spokesperson said, adding that the UK looks forward to strengthening its defence partnership with India.
Criticism From Rivals
The recent emergency landing attracted attention from state-run media in China and Russia.
Russia’s Sputnik India account on X remarked, “British F-35 makes emergency landing… Again. Just weeks after one F-35 was stranded in India, another was forced into an emergency landing at Japan’s Kagoshima Airport. Collecting emergency landings like souvenirs.”
China’s state-run Global Times took a harsher stance, claiming the malfunctions underscored the F-35B’s “overly complex systems and demanding maintenance requirements.”
Citing Chinese aviation expert Wang Ya’nan, the outlet suggested that UK personnel may struggle to manage these challenges during extended deployments far from home.
The F-35B, developed by Lockheed Martin, is a cutting-edge stealth fighter known for its short take-off and vertical landing capabilities.
(With inputs from IBNS)
