Kagoshima [Japan], August 10 (ANI): A British F-35 stealth fighter jet made an emergency landing on Sunday at Kagoshima Airport in southwestern Japan due to a malfunction, airport officials said, as reported by Kyodo News.
According to Kyodo News, some departures and arrivals of commercial flights at the airport were affected when a runway was closed for approximately 20 minutes following the incident, which occurred at around 11:30 a.m., officials stated. No injuries were reported.
Kyodo News noted that British forces have been conducting a joint drill with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and American forces since August 4, which will continue through next Tuesday, having dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the western Pacific.
Earlier in July, a British F-35B fighter jet left India after making an emergency landing in Kerala’s capital city of Thiruvananthapuram due to a hydraulic system fault. The fighter jet had made the emergency landing at the airport on June 14. The British Navy aircraft is part of the UK Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
The fighter jet was on a routine sortie when it developed a snag and could not land on the ship. The plane reached Thiruvananthapuram airport, which was designated as the emergency recovery airfield, and requested emergency landing permission.
The Indian Air Force provided all required support and assistance during the process, including refueling.
The British Navy’s F-35 fighter jet finally took off from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on July 22 after remaining grounded at the airport for over a month following the hydraulic system fault.
A British High Commission spokesperson expressed gratitude to the Indian authorities for the support offered in the repair and recovery process of the UK F-35B aircraft.
In an official statement, the spokesperson said, “The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process.” The statement added, “We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defense partnership with India.”
F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and are prized for their short take-off and vertical landing capability.
About The Author
