A UK Royal Air Force F-35B fighter jet made an emergency landing at Japan’s Kagoshima airport after experiencing a mechanical problem mid-air, local media reported.
Some flights at the airport were delayed as a runway remained closed for 20 minutes after the incident, which was reported around 11.30 am.
This is the second recent instance of a British F-35B fighter jet facing faults. On June 14, an F-35B fighter jet, en route from the UK to Australia, made an emergency landing in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram after it encountered a hydraulic failure.
It remained grounded in Kerala for five weeks, before being given final clearance to fly to the UK.
The 5th-generation stealth fighter is part of the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Indo-Pacific and recently completed joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy.
F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and are prized for their short take-off and vertical landing capability.