UK F-35B Makes Emergency Landing Japan Weeks After India Incident

A British F-35B stealth fighter jet embarked on the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales made an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport in Japan due to a technical malfunction during a joint exercise with Japan and the US. This incident follows a similar emergency landing of another F-35B from the same carrier in Kerala, India, two months prior, where the aircraft was stranded for over five weeks awaiting repairs. The British Carrier Strike Group, deployed on Operation Highmast, has been conducting exercises across the Indo-Pacific, including historic landings on Japanese naval vessels. The technical issues have drawn criticism, notably from Chinese media, which questioned the UK Navy's operational capabilities amid the reported malfunctions. Despite the attention, experts note that mechanical issues with frontline military aircraft are not uncommon, especially given the complexity and maintenance demands of the F-35B. The pilot of the recent incident in Japan was unharmed, and the aircraft is undergoing inspection with engineers working to resolve the issue promptly.