A United States F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a U.S. air base in the Middle East after sustaining damage during a combat mission over Iran, U.S. Central Command confirmed, following reports and footage released by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming a successful strike.
Iran’s military claimed a symbolic victory on Thursday as it aired footage purporting to show a US F-35 stealth fighter being struck by anti-aircraft artillery.
A black and white video shows what appears to be a US jet being hit by a missile before the footage abruptly ends. It would mark the first time an American F-35 has been successfully struck by enemy fire in combat.
US Central Command confirmed that the fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing while ‘flying a combat mission over Iran.’
‘The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,’ Captain Tim Hawkins said. It is unclear if the pilot, who landed at a US base in the Middle East, was injured.
The incident comes amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran, where both the United States and Israel are conducting air operations. It reflects a direct engagement involving a fifth-generation stealth aircraft and highlights the risks faced by advanced platforms operating in contested airspace.
According to two sources familiar with the matter, the F-35 was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire while flying over central Iran. The aircraft subsequently diverted and landed at a U.S. base in the region.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the aircraft was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing.
“The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins said. “This incident is under investigation.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted a U.S. F-35 over central Iran and released video footage it claims shows the aircraft being hit. However, the footage has not been independently verified.
The reported strike would represent the first known instance of Iranian forces damaging a U.S. manned military aircraft during the current conflict, which began in late February.
The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter designed to conduct air superiority, strike, and reconnaissance missions in contested environments. Its low observable design is intended to reduce detection by radar systems, while advanced sensors provide situational awareness and targeting capabilities.
Despite these features, the aircraft can still be vulnerable to air defense systems, particularly in environments with layered defenses or where adversaries employ a combination of radar, infrared tracking, and short-range engagement systems.
Emergency landings following combat damage are part of standard operational procedures, allowing aircraft to recover at the nearest suitable airfield while minimizing risk to the pilot and preserving the platform for inspection and repair.
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