US F-35 makes emergency landing after alleged Iranian fire: report

F-35 aircraft, which was reportedly targeted by Iranian fire, was forced to land at a US airbase in the region

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 20^th, 2026) A US F-35 stealth fighter jet made an emergency landing at a US military base in the middle East after coming under fire from Iran, according to a report by US broadcaster CNN.

Citing sources, the report said the F-35 aircraft, which was reportedly targeted by Iranian fire, was forced to land at a US airbase in the region.

Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US Central Command (CENTCOM), stated that the fifth-generation stealth aircraft was on a combat mission over Iran when it had to make the emergency landing. He confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it had targeted the aircraft at 2:50 a.m., adding that there is a strong possibility the jet was destroyed. The IRGC said the incident demonstrates improvements in its air defence capabilities, claiming it has already downed 150 drones.

Iranian media also circulated a video purportedly showing IRGC air defence forces targeting an F-35 fighter jet.

The CNN reported that if confirmed, this would mark the first time Iran has targeted a US aircraft since the conflict began in late February. The war has seen both the United States and Israel deploy such aircraft, each valued at over $100 million.

The report further noted that the US has lost other aircraft during the conflict, though none have been confirmed as shot down.

Three US F-15 fighter jets were previously mistakenly downed by Kuwait’s air defence system, although all six crew members managed to eject safely.

Separately, a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq last week under unclear circumstances. US military officials said the crash was neither due to enemy fire nor friendly fire. All six personnel on board were killed in the incident.

Iran claims F-35 targeted, calls it symbol of US power

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that an F-35 fighter jet, which he described as a symbol of American military power and arrogance, was targeted by Iranian forces.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Ghalibaf said the F-35 had long been portrayed as an aircraft invisible to detection and superior to all others, adding that divine power ultimately surpasses all capabilities.

He further stated that, for the first time, such a symbol had been struck, calling it a sign of the decline of what he described as a broader system.

The comments follow reports that Iran’s defense systems engaged a US F-35 aircraft.

According to US media reports, an F-35 stealth fighter was forced to make an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East after being allegedly targeted.