US Air Force F-35 makes emergency landing after being struck over Iran
March 19, 2026
A US Air Force F-35 stealth jet was damaged on a mission over Iran by what is believed to be Iranian fire.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 was flying a combat mission when it was hit and damaged, according to a report by CNN.
Although forced to make an emergency landing at a US base in the Middle East, a CENTCOM spokesperson told CNN that the F-35 landed safely and that the pilot was in a stable condition.
Iranian fire believed to have damaged a USAF F-35
According to Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, the F-35 was over Iran when it was forced to make an emergency landing.
“The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins added. “This incident is under investigation.”
Capt. Hawkins did not specify the nature of the incident, although according to two other sources speaking to CNN, it involved suspected Iranian fire.
If that is accurate, it’s unlikely that the jet was targeted by drones or air defence, given its extensive sensor fusion, stealth and EW capabilities. It’s possible it was hit by shrapnel from a missile, or even small arms fire if it was flying a ‘low and slow’ mission, as F-35s have been observed to do over Iran.
Potentially Iran’s first hit on an airborne USAF aircraft, although unconfirmed
If CENTCOM confirms the incident, it would be the first time Iran has hit an airborne US jet in the current conflict. The USAF has lost three F-15s to friendly fire over Kuwait, and five KC-135 tankers were damaged on the ground.
Another KC-135 crashed, killing all six crew members, after what was suspected to be a mid-air collision with another USAF tanker.
There is very limited information available at this time, and CENTCOM has yet to officially comment. This article will be updated as more details become available.
Featured image: USAF
