Emergency Landing of US F-35 Fighter Jet; Pilot in Stable Condition
News Summary
- An American F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a Middle Eastern military base after conducting an attack over Iran, with the pilot reported to be in stable condition.
- At least 13 US soldiers and 1,444 Iranians have died in the ongoing conflict with many others injured.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed that the objectives of the campaign against Iran remain unchanged, with no set timeline for completion.
Kathmandu – A US F-35 fighter jet, which had been on a mission to strike Iran, carried out an emergency landing at a Middle Eastern military base. While it is suspected the aircraft came under attack from Iran, this has not been confirmed.
According to US military officials, the aircraft landed safely and the pilot’s condition is stable. Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US Central Command, stated in a release that the fighter completed its mission over Iran before making an emergency landing at a regional base. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is stable. An investigation into the incident is ongoing,” he said.
US media outlet CNN cited sources indicating that the jet, valued at approximately $100 million, may have been hit during the incident over Iran. However, the US authorities have yet to clarify the exact cause of the emergency landing.
According to Al Jazeera, although the F-35 stealth fighter has been operational in combat since 2018, this is the first confirmed incident of it being affected by an attack.
On March 1, three US F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti F/A-18 jets due to “friendly fire.” All six crew members successfully ejected and survived.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed responsibility for targeting an American aircraft.
Since the conflict began on February 28, the US has reportedly lost about a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones. Additionally, Iranian missile strikes have damaged five refueling aircraft at a base in Saudi Arabia, although these reports have not been independently verified.
So far, the conflict with Iran has resulted in at least 13 American soldier fatalities and around 200 injuries. Iranian health officials report approximately 1,444 deaths and 18,551 injuries on their side.
US Objectives Remain Unchanged
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the country’s goals in the conflict against Iran remain as they were from the outset.
He noted that the US has struck over 7,000 targets inside Iran to date, including more than 40 bomb-carrying aircraft and 11 submarines.
“Our objectives have remained consistent from day one — to destroy Iran’s missile launch systems, damage its defense industry infrastructure and naval capabilities, and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons,” he said.
Hegseth also emphasized that there is no defined timeframe for how long the campaign will continue.