Malfunction forces Japanese F-15 to land at US air base
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilot maneuvers an F-15J Eagle near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 10, 2017.
SADIE COLBERT/U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO
By HANA KUSUMOTO | STARS AND STRIPES Published: May 24, 2018
TOKYO, Japan — A Japanese fighter jet made an emergency landing at a U.S. base on Okinawa Wednesday, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force spokesman said.
A hydraulic system malfunction forced the F-15 Eagle to land at Kadena Air Base at about 8:40 a.m. There were no reports of injuries or damages, and base operations were not interrupted, he said.
Japanese officials are investigating the incident.
This year has seen a string of unplanned landings in Japan, mostly by U.S. aircraft.
The most recent took place earlier this month when a pair of Guam-based Navy EA-18G Growlers made an unscheduled landing at a Japanese air base because one was running low on fuel.
An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport plane was sent to provide support for the Misawa Air Base-bound aircraft, a Japan Defense Ministry spokesman said.
