A U.S. Air Force F-35 takes flight in the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 2, 2026. (U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a U.S. air base in the Middle East after flying a combat mission over Iran.
“The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition. The incident is under investigation,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said in a statement Thursday.
CNN reported the aircraft was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire.
Early into Operation Epic Fury, Kuwait air defenses mistakenly shot down three F-15s during combat with Iran. All six crew members ejected safely.
Last week, an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq. The refueler went down in friendly airspace at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday. The circumstances of the crash are still under investigation, but CENTCOM said it was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.
All six crew members aboard the KC-135 were killed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth opened a Pentagon news briefing on Thursday by saying the families of the six airmen killed in the crash of their Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker had a simple message for him.
“We grieved with their families, and we listened. What I heard through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve was the same from family after family. They said, ‘Finish this, honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done,’ ” Hegseth said.
Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were among top U.S. officials who attended the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, in Delaware, Wednesday as the airmen were returned to their families.
