ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

US F-35 Fighter Aircraft Struck by Suspected Iranian Fire, Makes Emergency Landing

opinion-review · 2026-03-20

A United States F-35 fighter jet was reportedly struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire on Thursday, necessitating an emergency landing. This marks the initial instance of Iran targeting one of these advanced aircraft, valued at approximately $100 million, following military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on February 28. According to a spokesperson from U.S. Central Command, the aircraft was conducting a combat operation over Iranian airspace. The pilot emerged unharmed and the landing was executed without incident.

Key facts

  • A U.S. F-35 fighter jet was hit by suspected Iranian fire
  • The incident occurred on Thursday
  • The aircraft made an emergency landing
  • This is the first time Iran has hit an F-35 since U.S. and Israeli actions on February 28
  • The pilot is reported to be in stable condition and the landing was safe

Entities

Institutions

  • U.S. Central Command
  • CNN

Locations

  • United States
  • Iran

Sources