A British F-35B stealth fighter jet was forced 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 am, prompting a temporary runway closure that disrupted several commercial flight departures and arrivals for approximately 20 minutes. No injuries were reported.
The jet is part of a British aircraft carrier strike group currently engaged in a joint military exercise with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force and US forces. The drill began on August 4 and is scheduled to continue until next Tuesday.
This is the second known emergency landing involving a British F-35B in recent months.
Another fighter jet from the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier made an emergency landing in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on June 14, due to a hydraulic system failure.
The aircraft, which was conducting a routine sortie at the time, was unable to return to the carrier and diverted to Thiruvananthapuram Airport, a designated emergency recovery site. The Indian Air Force provided full support, including refuelling and ground assistance.
The jet remained grounded at the airport for five weeks before finally departing on July 22. The British High Commission later thanked Indian authorities for their cooperation during the repair and recovery process.
