An American F-35 fighter plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Thursday after an attack by Iran. CNN gave this information in the report quoting sources.
What did the Centcom spokesperson say?
According to Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the US Army’s Central Command, this fifth-generation fighter plane was on a mission over Iran when it had to make an emergency landing at a US airbase in West Asia. He said that the plane has landed safely and the incident is under investigation. The plane landed safely, Captain Hawkins said. The condition of the pilot is stable. This incident is being investigated.
F-35 targeted for the first time since the war started
This is the first time since the war began in late February that Iran has targeted an American aircraft, forcing the F‑35 to make an emergency landing. The F-35 is a stealth fighter plane that both the US and Israel are using in this conflict and its price is more than $100 million.
MOMENT US F-35 ‘SERIOUSLY DAMAGED’ BY IRGC AIR DEFENSES — Fars News pic.twitter.com/rwh5dldIfc
— RT (@RT_com) March 19, 2026
IRGC released statement and video
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it attacked a US F‑35 fighter plane over central Iran and caused ‘severe damage’ to it. In a statement, the IRGC said the American F‑35 aircraft was targeted by its air defense system at around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. He said that this operation was carried out ‘after the successful interception of more than 125 American-Israeli drones’.
The IRGC said the incident reflected significant and significant improvements in the country’s air defense system. This news is at the same time when America is claiming widespread success in its campaign against Iran.