Unexpected Right Panel Issue Affects F-35A in Flight
The US Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jet experienced a scary mishap while flying over Okinawa, Japan. According to reports, the right panel of the aircraft fell off during a routine training flight on Monday, December 18.
The F-35A, which is stationed at the US Air Force Base in Okinawa, took off for its training mission but was forced to land once the panel was discovered to be missing. The hexagonal side panel, which weighs about 2 kilograms, covers external connection points for electronic devices and is essential for maintaining the aircraft’s stealth capabilities, particularly its low radar cross-section.
Following the incident, a spokesman for the Okinawa Defense Bureau, which represents Japan’s Ministry of Defense on the island, urged the US military to take measures to prevent future mishaps and ensure the security of their operations.
The F-35 is deployed on a rotational basis from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska to Okinawa. The F-35A involved in the incident is one of the aircraft temporarily replacing aging F-15C/D fighter jets previously deployed at Kadena.
The mishap has raised sensitivity among Okinawa residents, who have experienced several high-profile incidents involving US military aircraft in recent years. In 2004, a US Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion crashed on the Ginowan campus of Okinawa International University, resulting in injuries to three crew members. In 2017, a window fell from a Marine Corps’ CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter and landed on an elementary school athletic field, causing slight injuries to a child.
The latest incident involving the F-35A further highlights the concerns of the local community about the safety of US military aircraft operating in the region.
Source: Stripes
